Replacement R-22 condensor/compressor available?

Is it still possible to buy a replacement unit? The evaporator coil in the attic is only 5 years old and I'd rather not junk it. I'm in Houston.

Thanks

 

I'm no expert, but I don't think there's any problem with R-22. AFAIK it's R-12 that has gone away.

Oops...no, just looked it up and I'm completely off. Was mixing my auto and residential.

What have you been told the problem is? Compressor failure? Or they just don't want to work on it?

I highly doubt you'll find an entire outside unit anymore, but a compressor itself may be available.

Though once you weigh all the factors (labor and refrigerant costs), it may be cheaper to replace with a new unit.

 

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_no...+condenser+dry

It is still possible to by R22 condensers that are shipped with no refrigerant ( dry units).

A better option might be to replace the expansion valve in your evaporator coil, blow out the piping with nitrogen and buy a R410 condenser.

 

Still have nitrogen filled condenser here.I slowed way down and still helped with maybe three this summer.

 

Thanks Folks,
I think the a/c guy has managed to breathe life into the old beast for now. But major question…..can I retrofit a new modern (non R-22) compressor and mate it with the (R-22) evap coil? That would be great if I could do that.
Very strange problem, unit would not get temp below 80F, compressor running constantly. Freon good, evap coil clean, but very hot here in Houston, plus we had to turn off the downstairs unit for 3 days due to some construction work. The upstairs unit was working hard, probably too hard for its 23 years. He blasted the condenser coil with water, had the gauges connected and showed me the relationships between the input and output pressures and cleaning the coil got us back into an acceptable range on both gauges. She’s running fine at moment, temp is 77, which is where we keep it anyway. We’ll see how it goes. Just thinking about replacement options, was think R-22 unit, but now reading that R-22gas will be costly due to import bans coming into effect on new R-22, so only reclaimed will be available for maintenance.

 

If strait A/C use Retro R-22 replacement R-422D; if heat pump &/or A/C use R-438A.
Not high Dollar, & both work okay in every way; contractors can get those refrigerants for your system.

 

Thanks, so if I'm understanding correctly, if it comes to it I could get eg: a Goodmans R-22 and fill it with R-422D? All seems good so far with the old unit but we'll see, I think I overheated the old girl......similar to the effect I used to have on the better half.

 

I've used the replacement refrigerants such as 422B and 422D. I was not happy with the results. Often times I lost enough capacity that the unit would not cool on hot days. For me its either real R22 or nothing.

 

Got it thanks. yep I'm seeing mixed reviews on the 422 product. You Tube has some positive videos, but am seeing reviews that are negative also. I'll proceed with caution, hopefully the original unit will keep going, but I may have to get a complete new system when the old workhorse finally croaks. We are into the afternoon here and she hasn't missed a beat so far. I honestly thought I was in for a new unit yesterday so was well pleased with the A/C guys check that Freon was full on both units and the $50 bill for his coil cleaning work and gauge test on both a/c's.

 

Unless the companies are misrepresenting their tests, Both R-438A (I trust DuPont) for both heat pumps & A/Cs & R-422D on A/Cs only should be okay.

There re z lot of reasons that the new refrigerant can get blamed for the unit not keeping up. It may not have kept-up with R-22 either.

 

A lot of irresponsibe information being put out there to the general public on this thread.

Even the manufacturer of 422D says it should only be used for low or med temperature refrigeration. Not home air conditioning.

And they all are rated at up to 10% less capacity than R22. I've personally seen this reduction if not worse. Buyer bewared if someone wants to put these replacements in your system.

Here is one of many links that spells it out.

http://www.refrigerants.com/pdf/R422D_LINK.pdf

 

R22 , brand new / virgin refrigerant is certainly available . It is not cheap , but it is no where near as costly as some HVAC people would have you believe .

If the old condenser / compressor is bad , I would seriously consider a new , dry charged R22 replacement condenser .

If your existing system is not a burn out or in some other way contaminated , I would think the R22 could be used to ( at least partially ) charge a new dry charge unit ?

God bless
Wyr

 

It's really not worth it to screw around with something which may or may not work when the price of an entire new system is as cheap as it is. You don't mention your ac size but you can get a complete goodman precharged (r410a) 3 ton ac unit with coil starting around $1000. The retrofit you're talking about including the r22 charge is at least that much..... probably more

 

Well we are not into May yet and she looks to be struggling. I think it's a 3 ton. Has there been any developments around using R410A in systems that ran R-22 or is it a total system swap?
Thanks

 

Didn't we already address this question.

You're in an area that relies on A/C..... replace the condensor and the evaporator as a matched set.

 

100% agree with PJmax! wasting your money on a un-matched system

 

OK thanks for the updates.