Payne’s PA10 air conditioner is a discontinued, 10 SEER electric unit. The series, for which last available data dates to 2004, consists of nine models in a range of sizes for residential to light commercial use.
According to the manufacturer, the PA10 features a durable, long-lasting exterior with a weather-protective cabinet of pre-painted steel, enhanced by a galvanized coating and zinc phosphate finish. Exterior rust-resistant screws also are feature, further contributing to the unit’s long-lasting performance.
This unit also was designed for simple maintenance, with strategically placed service values, one panel for all electric controls, an easy-to-remove base pan and straightforward access to all of the unit components. It includes an enclosed fan motor for additional durability, copper tube aluminum fin coil for efficient heat transfer, and vertical air discharge.
It performed flawlessly until about the time the warranty was up. Thankfully, I was able to troubleshoot it myself and the repair was a $15 start capacitor for the compressor. Ts and repair time: 1 hour, downtime 1.5 days. I'm 5 years on the new cap with no troubles.
Larry J
Grants Pass, OR
"Needed"
1.0 rating
Very Unsatisfied
Big mistake buying and owning one.
Bob Johnson
South Dakota
"Lasted only 10 years, noisy, not recommended"
2.0 rating
Somewhat Unsatisfied
I'm pretty disappointed with this unit. My 2.5 ton Payne AC just went out after only 10 years of service. The failure was a dislodged pin in the terminal plate on the compressor, causing a coolant/oil leak, and allowing a fault between phase wires once the oil bridged the gap between them. It's not something that can be related to install or even operation; a dislodged pin is due to wear and tear, especially vibration. Even when it worked well, the unit was loud, much louder than my 4.5 ton Ruud heat pump sitting right next to it. 10 years of service isn't terrible, but I feel that 15 years is expected now. It's not at all uncommon to see 20 or 25 year old units still going strong with proper maintenance. This Payne did not live up to expectations.
Tim K
Kansas City, MO
"Mine has been flawless"
5.0 rating
Very Satisfied
My Payne heat pump just went out and she gave me 15 years! Amazing unit. To all the people that have had so many unusual failures, I have one bit of advice: most systems failures are attributed to a poor install by the technician. As a builder I have some input to fact: Payne and Carrier are the same company. My outside heat pump is a Payne matched to a Carrier air handler…my system has been flawless and my HVAC technician is superb. Its all about the installer 99.9% as associated to issues. -15 to 108 degrees, it's worked like a charm and they are builder grade. 15 years is superb; these usually go 10-13 years! I'll get another one in the next few days.
Bill
Maryland
"New house install."
4.0 rating
Somewhat Satisfied
Our house was built in 2001 and this is the unit the builder installed. Very reliable so far. Decided we should have it's first "routine" service this week. No problems when we called the hvac people but they informed us that the condenser has bad points and will fail soon. Suggest that entire hvac system be replaced at a cost of $5,900. We see no signs of any problems and will wait for it to fail, if it does.
One review on hvac-for-beginners.com highly rates Payne’s basic units, recommending them to other shoppers and complementing the full warranty Payne offers. A contractor on askville.amazon.com suggests Payne basic air conditioning units as well, stating these units provide good longevity and performance.
Despite the positive reviews, consumer and help forums around the web are littered with complaints and other issues with the PA10. One homeowner on diybanter.com states that the unit doesn’t keep his home cool, while another on allexperts.com reports that his unit simply stopped working after continuous issues with the air conditioner. However, in these cases, homeowners and contractors suggest that faulty installation and using the wrong size unit for the home may have played a role in some of these problems.
Payne PA10 Model Numbers
The PA10 is available in different models which vary in efficiency and capacity.
Model Number
SEER
BTUs per Hour
PA10JA018-C
10
17,200
PA10JA024-C
10
22,000
PA10JA030-C
10
27,600
PA10JA036-C
10
33,800
PA10JA042-C
10
40,000
PA10JA047-C
10
44,000
PA10JA048-C
10
45,500
PA10JA060-C
10
57,000
PA10 Warranty
Payne typically offers a 10-year limited warranty on all cooling products. Units need to be registered on payne.com within 90 days of installation to receive full coverage. Failure to register the product will result in a 5-year limited warranty.
Best Heating & Cooling Products
See ratings and reviews for the best in furnaces, air conditioners, heat pumps, boilers and more.
