Reasonable, honest, HVAC contact in Houston, TX?

Question

First post, not sure if this is the right forum or not. Buying a short sale (1600sq), and unfortunately the compressor was stolen last night from the side yard. (House is vacant and I'm in option period) Bank will budge a bit on price, but not enough to cover the whole repair, Its a unit from 2005ish so I'm guessing I'll have to redo the entire system (coils on the inside, lines, etc) with the new non-freon alternative.

Anybody have a go-to guy for HVAC in houston that is reasonable? I don't need a crazy high SEER system as this is a rental

Also, what roughly am I going to spend to do a whole system (1600 sq)

Thanks!

Anybody have a go-to guy for HVAC in houston that is reasonable? I don't need a crazy high SEER system as this is a rental

Also, what roughly am I going to spend to do a whole system (1600 sq)

Thanks!

Al Bunch · Answer

Allied Air

Brian Mathews · Answer

I'll let you in on the little hvac secret about the "New" refrigerant that has been around for 15 years.  They still sell dry R22 units.  They come with no refrigerant in them, you charge them when you buy them.  There are a few alternative refrigerants to R22 which are cheaper and work the same.  If you go with R410 (new) refrigerant, there is absolutely no reason to change the lines unless they are too small.  I have literally changed hundreds of units from 22 to 410 and have never replaced the lines unless they were too small.  As long as they are blown out with nitrogen and a filter dryer installed, you will be fine.  If anybody tells you different, they are full of crap.  All the compressor manufacturers have said the same thing.  As far as the coil on the inside.  If it has a piston for a metering device, you will be fine.  If you are using a txv, just make sure it is changed to one for the 410 refrigerant.  The coils don't matter unless they are really old, then you might consider changing, but if within last 10 years, just change txv.