A/C Help!!!!

Under contract on a home, and need y'alls help asap!

Inspection was yesterday, and they found that the air conditioner has an issue. Inside unit is original, 2008, with R-22 freon. Outside unit was replaced in 2018 and has the new R-410 freon.
Unit wasn't operating to capacity and only read a delta of 12, and was filthy. He recommended having someone look at it for the compatibility issues, and a servicing at minimum.

Is this a case of a big no-no, and we should request the inside unit be replaced so the system is not mixed with different freons that operate properly at different pressures? Or is this just a ehh, they cheaped out, just a big service/cleaning and we should be okay for a while longer?

Thank yall so much!

Don't know much about your AC but have bought several houses over the years. They always leave a little wiggle room. Get them down to their lowest price and tell them to replace the AC. They probably won't do it , but should drop the price even more.

They probably just opted to have the condenser upgraded and metering device changed. Happens a lot.

Our house has 2 units, and each was on the separate freons like you describe. There's no issue with it. Yes, the older unit may go out soon. Just ask the seller to provide a home warranty for a year or two. We did this on our first house we bought. But running 2 different types of freon is fine. They are phasing out the R22 systems, which our new unit went to the new stuff.

Try to keep this short.

As the industry transitioned from R22 to R410A, some coils were cerified to operate with both refrigerants.
If so, performance diffence is ususaly not noticeable. But, there will be a loss. Also, the origjnal equipment is approaching the end of it's life cycle.

You can read the model number nomenclature, you will see the refrigerant. If it read R22 and or 410A, the coil may be used for both.

If it Read R22 and does not mention R410. That would be a game changer.

Now, SEER rating mix match can be a issue as well. Did inspector provide you with pictures?

I had one in a new house in New Orleans that was simply underpowered. It need to be replaced.

What Lazyjack said. The evaporator coil is most likely rated for 410a and should be fine. A system can not run properly on an mixture of two refrigerants.

You said that the unit was filthy so it must be cleaned to get proper readings. All the duct work should be checked as well.

Wouldn't that be like taking possession of the house before he closed? I never would have allowed anyone to work inside my house before closing.

Inside unit original. . . . How old is the house?

Any issues or problems should be fixed by current owner to your satisfaction before you close. Get a qualified HVAC person (not a home inspector) to advise you.

No. He's buying a house and this was an inspection...that is where you get results and negotiate what needs addressed and what you will take care of after closing.

Bill - you've posted 3 times on the thread....1 question and 2 completely irrelevant comments. That impressive worthlessness even for you.

Tell the seller the A/C needs to be completely replaced and reduce your offer by 10K. If he balks, walk.

i would, at a minimum have the evap replaced with a evap that is ahri matched to outdoor unit. or the money to do so deducted from purchase price of home. where is" the big m "at?

or this

Midlo?

House was built in 2007/8, the a/c in question has a 2007 tag.

Yes he sent pictures with the report, it just blurs out when I zoom. They're attached within the pdf, not separate. He has them listed as R22, not R22 and/or R410.

We're asking for an a/c company to come out and fully service/clean the entire hvac system, including ducts. Also to inspect and diagnose the unit in question and if its compatible and was retrofitted properly or if it truly was a case of pulling the wool of sorts on an elderly couple.

If it all checks out, just service and we on our way, if not, well then we'll cross that path if they push back on replacing the inside unit.

thanks for the help, and yes home warranty is happening now.


From the big M........Mansfield

07, I’m sure it is.

Be advised - There is zero chance in hell that a 'home warranty' company is gonna cover replacing a "Franken-system" that's broken/underperfoming , with a new properly matched split system.
You're gonna end up eating the entire cost in this situation, with a home-warranty co; they look for ANY reason to deny a covered claim, and a FRANKEN-SYSTEM is an easy out for them to deny it.
They will then tell you that the cost to fix this 'mess' is "gonna be $12,000 - but since you have the warranty with them, they will do it for $10,000. Meanwhile, a decent HVAC co, in the off-season, can be bargaine down to about $6k for a 'builder-grade' matched system replacement. Heck - you can mailorder the hardware delivered for under $3k - https://iwae.com/shop/3-ton-13-seer...-split-system-multiposition-ha11705.html and find a ac techie off-season to swap it for $1000 cash.

Best to have that system looked at by a certified HVAC company - and give you a write-up on what you have there and ask them if they're also gonna be willing to service the "Franken-system" if and when necessary.

I'd ask for at least a 5k deduction on house price if this system is 'hacked' together - it may be a 3-ton 12seer condenser running with 2-ton 8 seer performance due to 'mismatch' hack.

I was unaware that Mansfield was so “big”

Unfortunately Midlo is the new Mansfield. Mansfield has been swallowed and has over 70k. It's solid from 20, south to Broad, urban sprawl separation is now the dead end of 360 to Midlo.

What is the lifespan of the inside unit? It may not last much longer due to normal wear and tear. Good reason to negotiate a lower price.

A few things have changed in the last 50 years

The house is still there.

Just for the sake of general knowledge, the same gas is circulated in the outside (condensing) and inside (evaporating) units. It must be the same so that heat can be carried from inside the house to the outside. As others have stated, one of them might be older and rated for R-22, while the other is newer and rated for R-410a. If the inspector told you two types of gas are being used in the same system, then you know something about his knowledge of air conditioning systems.

It’s just mismatched equipment Dan

Agreed. I was just taken the OP's word that his inspector told him that two different types of refrigerant were in the system. He might have mistaken what he was told.

Make sure its your inspector and not their inspector.

It’s abviously rated for 410. It’s lasted this long. That’s just the coil itself though. I bet you there is some pretty nasty rust and crud in the pan that you can’t see without opening it up.

If it were my house, obviously would prefer new equipment based on that. We don’t know if it’s gas or electric, or the service history of it. Peace of mind is huge. Like said above, get an inspection to back your claim and either get new equipment or get a price reduction if you can.

Even R410A will be phased out before long as well. Gotta keep the economy moving, naw’m sayin.

Make sure to get a home warranty as part of closing. Have had them on all my home purchases and have used them numerous times on a/c system, appliances, etc. WAY more than paid for them every time.

Nailed it.

You are correct. The next big thing will have hydrocarbons in it. Isobutane I believe. But without fracking...... oh nevermind.

Never would I have connected hvac to fracking. Interesting. But yes. They’re ALL going to blends that contain at least 5 different virgin refrigerants. R22 works very, very well as a virgin but when you insert politics. . . . . this is what you get. I work around a lot of multi family and I’ve seen them charge units 100’s of times with vapor, while feeling the low side. It’s freakin maddening. If it’s that easy for someone who doesn’t understand the basics to mess up units, I’m quite certain it’s just as easy for the commercial side to get the same yahoos working on stuff.

Same guys using sand paper while brazing. . . sort of thing.

purty sure it already is in autos. 1234yf

You two (or one because my guess is Bill is talking out of his donkey and has never had a home warranty...if he has he's foolish because he's sitting on a mountain of wealth to hear him talk about it) have had better experience than I have. I couldn't get quality service from any home warranty repair facility and have come to the conclusion the contractors who work for home warranty companies do so because they suck and couldn't survive otherwise. I've had three in the last 20 years and have argued with everyone of them. The last came with a new to us home purchase...it only took 4 trips for them to fix a refrigerator after the initial trip out they told me I had the settings set to cold, only to look at me stupidly when I asked if it was too cold why did the manufacturer allow that setting to be chosen?

You sir are correct. Commercial refrigeration also.

I looked it up for you. Bought it for $50,000. Sold it for $75,000. Its now listed at $393,0000.

Bill, did you plant those trees?

The ones in the back. The builder planted two pine trees for every house on the street. I planted one for my house in New Orleans. I now covers the entire front yard.

That’s got to be cool to see them all these years later and think, “I did that”

I tried to look up the one in LA but had to sign in. I don't do sign-ins. The address is 36 Antigua Drive, Kenner, LA. It was my second house after moving from Dallas.