Can You Just Replace the Inside AC Unit? All You Need to Know

Outdoor AC unit

Whole-home air conditioners have two units. One is inside of the house and it disperses cold air. The other is outside, and it releases the hot air from your home outside. If you need to replace your air conditioner, you might wonder if you can save money by replacing only the inside unit. Here’s what you need to know about this strategy when it can work when it can’t, and why. 

When You Can Replace One Half of the AC Unit 

There is one time when you can replace just the inside or just the outside portion of your whole-home air conditioner. When you are installing the exact same system that you have now. The system is made to work with itself and should connect properly, so there’s no concern that the full system will not work or won’t work as well as it is supposed to. 

However, this may not be in your best interest. If the system is old, replacing only one half of it may be more of a hassle than it is worth. The other half of the system is likely to breakdown shortly, which means you’ll need to call your technician back and get the other half installed. 

There is one circumstance where this strategy makes sense. If you just got a new air conditioner installed and it had a manufacturer defect in one half, replacing that half with a new version of the exact same model may be most effective for you. Your warranty should be covering this installation, so it’s more about saving time than money, but it is still a good strategy. 

Having issues with your AC unit? Contact our team at Air Treatment ClimateCare to learn more about AC units and what you can do to save money. 

outdoor air conditioner unit

Why You Can’t Replace One Half of the AC Unit 

It’s not wise to mismatch air conditioner systems. The one half may not be made to work with the other, and technology may have advanced so that the new system is not compatible with the old one. Even if the two halves are compatible, efficiency ratings are based on the whole system. Two mismatched systems may be less efficient, effective, and more costly than either of the systems would be if they were a whole. 

Besides, if you install only one half of a new air conditioner system, you will void your warranty, which is an important protection in the case that the new system has a problem. 

Get Your Air Conditioner Installation from Air Treatment ClimateCare 

Our experts can walk you through our process of air conditioner installation and answer all of your questions about it. We pride ourselves on giving honest, straightforward advice that can save you money and fit your priorities. Reach out to us today.