“What’s a mismatched air conditioning system?” you wonder. Is that like a mismatched outfit where the colors clash? No, it’s something far worse than a mildly odd clothing style, which may actually be something you want. (We’re not a fashion design company—dress how you like!) A mismatched air conditioning system is when the different components from an AC aren’t matched to work together.
The most common mismatched air conditioning system is when the outdoor condenser isn’t matched to the indoor components. Most residential ACs are “split systems,” with indoor and outdoor units, and people may make the mistake of thinking of these parts as essentially separate and not part of a matched set. But they are. And if you have only one part replaced, such as the outdoor condenser when the compressor fails, it will create big problems.
Unfortunately, sometimes homeowners make the mistake of upgrading only one part of their air conditioner to save money, and they’ll find non-reputable HVAC “technicians” who’ll do the work. Here’s why we don’t advise getting your AC mixed up like this.