Frankenstein systems, not recommended but I love building monsters..

cantankerous

My old wall furnace died and a heating contractor was selling a Trane 3 ton heat pump and air handler real cheap, taken out of a remodel that now needed a larger 5 ton. It is old but a good brand and he said it was working fine when retired but it needed a new coil in the air handler.

I have been looking t some supply stores on line and various brands are selling for $X amount of dollars (Not sure if allowed to put rough figures here) and I contacted one for the exact model number match and the Trane one was 4 times more expensive. Since I would not be able to get a warranty for a mismatched system, would rather gamble on the much cheaper "Brand X" as long as the same 3 ton, 410 refridgerant and size to fit inside the air handler would work.

Anyone know which brands are compatible with Trane? Also, what is the difference between a TXV and Piston type with the coils and what is their function? I will be having a professional HVAC contractor doing the hook ups but would like some opinions before I get them out here. Thanks

pecmsg

why are you messing with a 20-year-old piece of equipment.

Who are you gonna get to pipe it in and charge it?

when it doesn’t work, who will be responsible?

londonrefrig

Cantankerous, get a reputable hvac company. I dont sell used for a reason, it always bites me in the ****. Could it work, yes. Should it work, probably. Will it work, not likely. Then you will be pissed off, the buddy who hooked it up will be pissed off, and you still wont have heat and out a thousand or more.

Experience tells me over 10 years old, its almost dead. If its sat for any length of time, especially if lines werent welded, compressor is probably junk.

Txv vs piston, its an efficiency thing. They meter the refrigerant into the coil creating a pressure drop causing a change in state absorbing btus. Experience will tell you what is better depending on the situation.

The trane vs off brand. Doesnt matter, if the system runs, trane likely wont warranty it anyways.

cantankerous

Sure, this thing is a huge gamble if it will work and as far as who is responsible if it does not it obviously will be me. Rest assured, I will not be pissed off. I just got a few hundred in this and if the compressor dies, it can be replaced. The only thing that could really go out on the air handler is the blower motor, also replaceable.

I just have to hope the HVAC guy who sold me this was honest and reputable and we all know 99.99% of them are….

I did my own duct work and as far as the line set, it is only a 17' run, can get 25' new for less than couple hundred.. I have a retired HVAC guy who can solder/braze the lines, evacuate and charge.

Am I going to lose money if it all crashes, yes but not that much and you would be astonished how much I lose each year on mechanical repairs to my vehicles not to mention the thousands on depreciation on them each year…..Gambling, yes but the odds are much better than buying lottery tickets which so many people do (not me).

I am old and retired but enjoy trying out new things, learning new things, (like the difference between TXV and piston) ,got my own duct system put in just buying materials from Lowe's, local sheet metal co. built my supply box for the top of the Air handler.

This house is old (80) and moving this year. I had the wiring upgraded with Cadet wall heaters in the bedrooms and bathrooms installed, and have a gas ductless fireplace heating the great room.

I could put in 2 more Cadet wall heaters since we put in a 200 amp breaker box new system in and just sell the house with plenty of heating capacity but more expensive to heat than a heat pump.

The only nasty part of my DIY plan is running that lineset in the crawl space. I went down there last week and not much room to work in but was able to slither under the floor joist beams to make sure the line install has no obstacles. Looks good, one straight line between the Pump and air handler, just the issue of bending that 3/4" suction line coming up from there to the Handler. Guess standard pipe bender would work for this which I will need to borrow from my plumber, just want to make sure these lines do not kink.

clammy

Don't waste your time being as time passes that 410 a system will just be a anchor and will all be removed for a real system w a new refrigerant and line set which none of the equipment your installing will be compatible with possibly . Personally i would not re install a over 10 years old outdoor unit unless i installed it first and remove myself and there still would be zero guarantees of proper operation it would be a time and material w every minute and part being billed and hang out time while you attempt for locate parts to save money .As for compressor replacement by the time you do that new refrigerant and dryer pressure test and vacume you still a old pos . Also don't think that most hvac guys unless a newbie will be running to hook up some thing that old being they already known the dealo unless it a trunk slammer cash then ok . Also a olded system when looked at by a home inspector will be mark as in need of replacement and not add any value to the selling price . If your used stuff does not work then again you got a new expense for the new owner to reclaim remove and dispose of some one else garbage and have a real heating and cooling system installed which would add to the value of your home not become a subtraction from your selling price which in any case will be 20 to 25 k . Do it once do it right instead of wasting your time and making someone purchase a home where they will be dumping money in on necessities like heat . Personally electric heaters in each room is not a real central heating system for a home it's more like good for a vacation home or hunting cabin or off grid but i would find it hard pressed for anyone to purchase a home w resistance electric heaters the electric consumption and it s cost would be incredible unless your rates where like 5 cent a kw . unless your turning them on and off and using when areas are only occupied who the heck lives like that ? Homes deserve a real heating system not some thing that hobbled together piece work . Being it s your home go and create some thing and then fool yourself that it works your only fooling yourself and when a real pro checks out your handy work dont be surprised if he says he really busy and you ll have to find some one else .Why because he s not going to waste his time working on your old junk . Again do yourself a favor and save time and money and get a lic hvac contractor to design and layout a real hvac system being this what they know and have sent years to learn ,it s not some thing that ya pick up on the internet from 10 minutes of internet non sense research .

true life example looked at hot water to steam job complete change over the home owner thought my price was to high and that it would be easy . Well he was pretty good guitar player gigged all the time ,he thought it was nothing to drill holes and such well first hole he drill w a angle drill being it looked so easy ended up ripping his thumb off now he no longer plays guitar or gigs,so as easy as we make it look it ain't, the reason it looks so easy cause after doing these various things we all do that look so easy ,guess what it ain't so easy until ya get hurt then you realize it ain't so easy and ya get a pro who has the tools the experience of using these tools and wisdom and smarts from doing it for years .

hey i'm all on board for the do it yourself but don't be to fooled by you tube they only make it look easy

please take his all w a grain of salt from some who has over 40 years work experiences who has seen every attempt to save a couple of bucks and do it yourself and dearly profited from correction of such works of said art . Remember penny wise dollar foolish . Another note is nothing and i mean nothing is built to last these day from cars to ac they all have a planned life span . if they dont break or need replacement every few years then theres no manufacturing economy and no low to mid class assemble jobs and we all fail and go hungry bow bow bow rubber biscuit

peace and good luck clammy

PC7060

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1835845#Comment_1835845

@clammy post deserves 3 flags:

Had to pick just one!

😎😎😎

Mad Dog_2

Cantankerous...Listen to Clammy.…he knows...Mad Dog