packaged air conditioning unit

[Dean]

Hello-
My parents bought an older existing singlewide in a 55+ retirement park and plan to replace the existing home with a new 16x80 unit. The existing home on the lot has a packaged A/C unit that is only 3 years old. I understand this type of A/C unit has the compressor and coil contined all within this outdoor unit.

The dealer for the new home said the oil furnace in the home is A/C ready and charges $1900 to add the coil to the furnace and an outside compresser. I'm wondering if this existing packaged A/C unit can be used. Can this be hooked up the the new home's ductwork? Any advice would be apperciated.

[trmimo]

1900 is high for a/c fo a 16 by 80.
You may be able to reuse the exisitng unit if it is large enough.
It probably is because the new home will be better insulated, but you do want to check.
If you live in a cold climate though, a packaged a/c unit is a major source of heat loss in the winter months.

[Dean]

Thanks for the information- yes, they do live in the northeast and it is a cold winter climate and hot humid summers.

I didn't realize the heat loss issue in the winter months, is that because heated air is pumped through the duct work to the outside unit? I wasn't sure how that worked- if there was some type of damper that you could close off the heated air from circulating in the winter months to the packaged unit or not.

[Pendragon]

FWIW, the existing unit may not be sized for the new home, unless they are the same size.. Even then, a major change in windows or other items could throw the sizing off.

You loose a small amount of efficiency in a packaged unit simply due to the additional ductwork. It's your call, do you want to save a few dollars a month and listen to the heat/ac run, or spend it on the peace and quiet a package unit gives?

I went for the packaged unit.. 2350 sq ft, my heat/ac bill is around $150 a month (it was only $140 last month, but was 160 the month before), that includes electric hot water, dryer, a commercial coffee maker, 3 computers, etc.

[trmimo]

There is a damper on the supply duct, but not usually on the return air duct. I haven't sold a packed a/c in probably 15 years because of the efficency and convenience of split systems. But, since you have a packaged unit I would say use it if it sized properly because you aren't going to be able to recoup the cost of your packaged unit when you try to sell it. But, if it isn't properly sized right go with a split system. And shop around, unless your area has very high permit costs, you can do better than $1900.