polkanut
Well-known member
I'm curious to find out who currently has the oldest central ac unit on this site that's in regular use. Ours was installed in 1994. It's a Lennox unit.
Central ac age
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ryner1988
Well-known member
My in-laws have an HVAC system that's from 1994, so 30 years old. The AC part just gave out a couple months ago, but the furnace still works.
cfz2882
Well-known member
a few oldies still chillin
recently fixed condenser fan on one at a golf clubhouse:1968.Blower on one from 1982.A recent interesting one recently taken out of service was a gas-fired absorbson type:a little belt for chilled water circulation shredded and replacement belt could not be found*owner thought system was installed around 1980 and very efficient.
recently fixed condenser fan on one at a golf clubhouse:1968.Blower on one from 1982.A recent interesting one recently taken out of service was a gas-fired absorbson type:a little belt for chilled water circulation shredded and replacement belt could not be found*owner thought system was installed around 1980 and very efficient.
panasonicvac
Well-known member
We have a 1991 Carrier Crusader upstairs. Replaced the motor probably more than 10 years ago I should say. Unfortunately it's expected to be replaced by next summer cause the ac has seen better days so we have it temporary working while it lasts. But luckily the furnace still works. We did had another Carrier in our basement but that got replace more than 10 years ago as well with a Rheem Classic 90 Plus, we just had the board on it replaced last month. And then also upstairs we have a 1999 Bryant Plus 90i when we extended our house, never had a problem from what I recall but it doesn't get used very much.
fan-of-fans
Well-known member
My parents house had a 1976 Fedders central unit, it was replaced about 2003 so it wasn’t as old then as it would be now, but definitely one of the older ones I saw. It had two compressors if I remember right so I guess it was a two stage system.
I was sitting at a red light a while ago and happened to look over at a building and saw two old GE units (from before the sale to Trane so at least 1982 at newest!
From what I heard (never saw it) my grandniece’s house had possibly a 1950s or 60s hvac system. Can’t confirm but they had bought the house around 1980 and it was old then.
I really do like the round diffusers many of the systems from the 60s and early 70s had around here. After about 1971, they seemed to switch mainly to rectangular diffusers around the edge of the rooms.
Not a lot of older units seen in my area anymore, they get a lot of use so anything 10 or 15 years is about the most I see.
I’ve always liked the look of the Trane units with the Weatherguard top.
I was sitting at a red light a while ago and happened to look over at a building and saw two old GE units (from before the sale to Trane so at least 1982 at newest!
From what I heard (never saw it) my grandniece’s house had possibly a 1950s or 60s hvac system. Can’t confirm but they had bought the house around 1980 and it was old then.
I really do like the round diffusers many of the systems from the 60s and early 70s had around here. After about 1971, they seemed to switch mainly to rectangular diffusers around the edge of the rooms.
Not a lot of older units seen in my area anymore, they get a lot of use so anything 10 or 15 years is about the most I see.
I’ve always liked the look of the Trane units with the Weatherguard top.
Here's a late entrant. It's at the apartment of a nice older lady I've been driving to church. She's been in the apartment 31 years and knows it's older than that. Looking at it, I was guessing it was from the 1970s or so.
The badge says Rheem Corsair.
The badge says Rheem Corsair.
But if I'm reading the serial number right, it was manufactured in October, 1968!
cfz2882
Well-known member
old Rheem
that does look late-'60s era-probably has cool startup sound.Cabinet metal and copper piping thickness will be about twice that of anything made in the last 35yrs or so.I can smell the big PCB laced capacitors.
that does look late-'60s era-probably has cool startup sound.Cabinet metal and copper piping thickness will be about twice that of anything made in the last 35yrs or so.I can smell the big PCB laced capacitors.
Maybe I can get a startup video at some point.
Does anyone know enough about the Rheem model numbers to decipher the cooling output? I see a 24 which might indicate two tons. If the maximum current draw is 14 amps at 230 volts, that would equate to 3220 watts and an EER of about 7.5. A little better than I expected for 1968!
Does anyone know enough about the Rheem model numbers to decipher the cooling output? I see a 24 which might indicate two tons. If the maximum current draw is 14 amps at 230 volts, that would equate to 3220 watts and an EER of about 7.5. A little better than I expected for 1968!
cfz2882
Well-known member
possible '74 units still kicking out coolness
atop a local store,built in 1974,are two big units that look old enough to be original-I have seen the indoor blower,and it is a big belt-driven squirrel cage.Nice and cool in the store I was riding my "Big Wheel"trike in '74
atop a local store,built in 1974,are two big units that look old enough to be original-I have seen the indoor blower,and it is a big belt-driven squirrel cage.Nice and cool in the store
I was riding my "Big Wheel"trike in '74 
A building in town where I worked from 1998 to 2007 had (possibly still does) an ancient Carrier system that likely dates to the 1960s if not the late 1950s ... the indoor blower/coil and thermostat was/is that age, wish I had taken photos of them at the time. The compressor I believe was indoors in the blower/coil, with the condensor/fan remote presumably on the roof. The thermostat was horrible for temp stability both heating and cooling, the anticipator apparently was non-functional.
Old Rheem central air conditioner
Reply number nine, hi John, the Rheem unit you posted about is indeed a 24,000 BTU 2 ton unit normally the cooling capacity is coded into the model number like you found on this one.
The EER of 7 1/2 is about normal for air conditioners of this age. They never really went much worse than this, I put a whirlpool central air conditioner in my home in 1977. It was a 9.6 ER which was the most efficient I could buy at that time that air conditioner worked beautifully for 42 years finally just replaced it about three years ago as it developed refrigerant leaks . Wish I had a picture of the whirlpool unit. It had a variable speed outdoor fan and was extremely quiet and very efficient. I installed a new Nordine built 16 seer unit three years ago my brother and I did it. I found the condensing unit on a closeout for only 500 bucks had to buy a new a coil and lines. We did the whole job for under $1000 works great. It’s a little more efficient than the old whirlpool but 16 seer only translates to around a 12 EER.
John
Reply number nine, hi John, the Rheem unit you posted about is indeed a 24,000 BTU 2 ton unit normally the cooling capacity is coded into the model number like you found on this one.
The EER of 7 1/2 is about normal for air conditioners of this age. They never really went much worse than this, I put a whirlpool central air conditioner in my home in 1977. It was a 9.6 ER which was the most efficient I could buy at that time that air conditioner worked beautifully for 42 years finally just replaced it about three years ago as it developed refrigerant leaks . Wish I had a picture of the whirlpool unit. It had a variable speed outdoor fan and was extremely quiet and very efficient. I installed a new Nordine built 16 seer unit three years ago my brother and I did it. I found the condensing unit on a closeout for only 500 bucks had to buy a new a coil and lines. We did the whole job for under $1000 works great. It’s a little more efficient than the old whirlpool but 16 seer only translates to around a 12 EER.
John
repairguy
Well-known member
Here is a 1978 GE that I replaced the motor on yesterday. It is original to the home. The motor had been replaced once before with the capacitor. All other parts are original. I did replace the shorted 15 mfd capacitor as well. It is extremely uncommon for a unit this age to still be operating at a residence in southeast Texas. I’ve seen older but usually at a church or a commercial building where is wasn’t run hard or regularly. Notice the 1978 styrofoam blocks the condenser coil sets on.
1978 GE central air conditioner
Wow, that’s pretty cool Melvin, it looks like you guys really do get some humidity there but that unit still hanging in there, the GE clima-tough compressor looks great.
I remember seeing those GE units, it was kind of neat the way the top shroud comes off and you can get to the contactor and capacitors, etc., and that they put them up high for easy service access.
John
Wow, that’s pretty cool Melvin, it looks like you guys really do get some humidity there but that unit still hanging in there, the GE clima-tough compressor looks great.
I remember seeing those GE units, it was kind of neat the way the top shroud comes off and you can get to the contactor and capacitors, etc., and that they put them up high for easy service access.
John
fan-of-fans
Well-known member
That looks similar to the ones I saw awhile back, I believe it’s a Lion’s Club building or similar group.
I believe that design continued to be built after GE sold its central air conditioning division to Trane around 1982.
I believe that design continued to be built after GE sold its central air conditioning division to Trane around 1982.
cfz2882
Well-known member
spine fins have held up well! aluminum over copper unlike aluminum/aluminum of GE's smaller units. 7842 date code on that capacitor is 42nd week:~ november.
My 1977 Sears Best unit I replaced in 2017. Was still working when replaced but was beginning to need more and more repairs. Of course it always stopped working on the hottest of days, on a Friday night when nothing when no parts houses would be open until Monday! 40 years of service is not bad for Alabama heat and humidity
fan-of-fans
Well-known member
Another oldie
I recall user “human” (Edgar) on vacuumland had a 1972 Singer system he had replaced just a couple of years ago. Furnace rusted out was was unsafe if I recall right the Ac still worked.
I recall user “human” (Edgar) on vacuumland had a 1972 Singer system he had replaced just a couple of years ago. Furnace rusted out was was unsafe if I recall right the Ac still worked.
