Originally Posted by
hvac1000
On that old of a unit the coil will not be compatable and it would be foolish to try and use it over on a new system. A 33 year old unit is probably a 5 or 6 SEER the new is 13 SEER minimum. Your unit could be a 3 ton by the model but I have no cross refence for that old a unit.
So would it be safe to "assume" (although I hate using that word) that if we were going to swap out the coil, that we would need to also purchase a new condenser unit? We have a price on a slightly used (2 seasons) central air conditioning 2 ton, 14 seer condenser with an a-coil for $250. Or do you think it would probably be in our best interest to simply pay the money to get a service tech out here to look at it and possibly trouble shoot the fact that it kicks on, but the fan will turn for a few seconds and then stop? In NJ a home inspection is required on all appliances and utilities (heat, a/c etc) which we had done, however it was 55 deg. When we had the inspection done, so it was too cool to be able to test the c/a unit. The day we made settlement, same thing, it was too cool to be able to test it, so we literally came into the house not knowing if the central air worked or not. We have discovered since then, that it does not.
My husband is an electrician and was thinking that perhaps we should start by replacing the fan motor, but it's a matter of FINDING one that is compatible with the unit we have. The unit appears to have been on a service contract at one time, as it was last serviced 3 years ago. However, the previous home owner passed away in February of last year, and the C/A unit was not run here through out last summer. Could it be something as simple as a bad fan motor?