Would you buy used heat pump?

[Maurino17]

Hi All,

We built our pool this year, and still have some more landscaping and landscaping so I would love to save some money on the heat pump.

I kept an eye out all summer and didn't see any reasonably priced, larger heat pumps.

Now I found two!

Jandy AE3000 AE-TI 130K btu for $350, 9 years old, this one is about 15 minutes from me.
Hayward Heat Master HML110TA 110K BTU for $500, 5 years old, this one is 1.5 hrs away from me.

What is the life expectancy on a heat pump?

Is Jandy reputable and better or worse than Hayward?

Is it worth taking a gamble of a few hundred bucks not to have to spend 3K or more for a new one?

thanks
Greg

 

[Pool_Medic]

Jandy is head and shoulders above Hayward. If you know a heat pump repair guy or company, it’s a no brainer.

 

[Maurino17]

Thanks!
I don’t happen to know a pool heat pump guy specifically but my brother in law is an hvac tech so I’m assuming he can help if I need to fix anything.

What’s the life expectancy on these?

Jandy is head and shoulders above Hayward. If you know a heat pump repair guy or company, it’s a no brainer.

 

[Pool_Medic]

Some last 25 years, a lot depends on titanium exchanger and the proper chemistry. Switches go on them at times but any vac guy can determine the issues.

 

[Maurino17]

this is a big help thanks!

 

[BMK]

Are the heat pumps currently in operation, or are they sitting in the person's yard or garage? If not in operation, you wont be able to know if it actually works or not until you get it home and plumbed into your system. If they are operational, maybe your brother in law could go with you and give them a thorough going over before you buy.

 

[Maurino17]

The jandy is totally disconnected, I think the Hayward is also still waiting to talk to that seller.

I think im going to roll the dice on the jandy. I have to run the 220 line and am aboutbtomwinterize my pool so I won’t know till the spring if I got a deal or not. But even if I have to fix something will still be cheaper than a new one!

Are the heat pumps currently in operation, or are they sitting in the person's yard or garage? If not in operation, you wont be able to know if it actually works or not until you get it home and plumbed into your system. If they are operational, maybe your brother in law could go with you and give them a thorough going over before you buy.

 

[spoonman]

It never occurred to me to buy a used heat pump. I’d also like to add a heater without as much ufront investment. Looking forward to seeing how this works for you. Good luck with the Jandy and please keep us updated!

 

[sktn77a]

Honestly, I wouldn't touch a used heatpump with a 10 foot pole! Installing (plumbing, electric, charging, etc) is expensive and if it doesn't work or dies the first week you use it, it's money down the drian. People are usually selling these for a reason!

 

[jatkinson]

All brands aside.. You better find out what kind of refrigerant that heat pump uses. If it's R22, walk away. In just a little over 1 year from now, it's lights out on R22. The prices are already approaching low earth orbit. Newer units run on cheap 410a. (I'm an AC guy) I wouldn't touch a used AC for my house, same for a heat pump. It's not being used for some reason.