SEER 10 Condenser with older evap coils

[DMSPE]

20 y/o 2-1/2 Ton HP has finally given out. Plan to convert to cooling only because heating-side air supply side is inadequate (air is good for cooling). Will run new SEER 10 unit with existing evap coils which was part of a matched SEER 8 or less system. I hear everything from "compressor will blow" to "should work". I recognize at best it will yield <SEER 10 perf. Cooling (residential) is only needed 300-400 hrs/year so it's hard to justify a $5K total system overhaul. I see systems that use same evaps for two or three size ranges. Not sure why it won't work. Thoughts, cautions, warnings, advice?

 

[KiwiMace]

$5k will buy you a whole new 13 seer with furnace, as the 10 seers are no longer being manufactured, call around your dealers and ask for a matched 10 seer set, should be pretty reasonable. The indoor coil will bring the whole system efficiency down. I just replaced my home system to 13seer, and the increase in the coil sizes was huge!