I wouldnt put $1600 into a 10 yr old unit today. Once stuff starts to go, and you start having to replace major components (reversing valve, expansion valve, TXV valve, coils, condenser, compressor, etc) it's generally better to just bite the bulllet and get a new unit. Not to mention the fact that due to all the refrigerant changes over the past 15 yrs, you might not even be able to get the parts for your older unit, that you need to keep it running a year now, when something else goes bad. You're lucky to get 12 yrs out of most units now days, even if it is properly maintained. They just dont make things like they used to, and that's a fact.
There are a lot of HVAC techs on the innerwebs that say the "can't get old parts/refrigerant" bit is a myth. They say you absolutely can, both remanufactured and even new. They just may be a
little harder to find and may have to be ordered vs having them on-hand same day. And so a lot of techs use that as an excuse to tell a customer they "can't get parts" anymore and replacement is the only option. And since most homeowners are in a bind once it gets to that point, they just go with it.
Maybe that's not the case, but if you do some research online, there are countless HVAC techs claiming that it's a scam 9 times out of 10.....and frankly, I'm inclined to believe them. My unit is 18yrs old...I just put $800 into it a month ago and I've replaced various parts over the last 5yrs. When it gets to the point that an HVAC company tells me I "have" to replace it, I'll run fans or stay with inlaws a day or two while I at least get a 2nd (or 3rd) opinion...
