Hello:
Have a 25 year old 3 ton A/C unit (the split type) that has the evaporator section as part of my gas, forced hot air furnace. It does work, sort of, but would like to put off replacing it for another few years, if possible.
Will be replacing the furnace now however, with a new Trane unit.
The HVAC contractor suggested, strongly, that we replace the evaporator section now when he replaces the furnace. Have several questions, please:
a. is this in general a good idea ?
b. some time in the near future, we will, probably, be replacing the outside A/C condenser. Might be replaced witha another 3 ton unit, or perhaps a 3.5 ton unit-hard to know or guess at this point.
What potential problems would I be letting myself in for in trying to mesh a new condenser with an already installed evaporator coil in the new furnace ?
c. Best, in your opinions, to do the whole thing at once, and not replace the evaporator coil now ? The cooling produced now is marginal; would be nice if a new evaporator coil would improve the present situation; is it "likely" to ?
d. Also, would there likely be Brand incompatibilities, or is one evaporator coil like the next, etc.
What else should I be asking about this ?
Sort of a peripheral question: is it still a good idea to have the furnace, somehow, installed a few inched off the floor in case water comes into the basement for whatever reason ? Or, are the furnace guts high enough off of the floor, usually ? If a good idea, how is it usually done ? Do the mfg's make a frame to do this ? Bricks ?
Much thanks, Bob