I have a 2-ton, Goodman split-system A/C: condenser outside, air handler inside -- installed 5/2012. The condenser "died" this past July, and I had it replaced (same A/C contractor as before) with a newer unit (the previous condenser was discontinued, and no replacement coil available). Works like a champ -- for $2,500 it had better.

Problem: He didn't pull a permit. WTF not? Because in order to obtain a permit, my municipality requires that both parts be replaced with "compatible" units. But the air handler works fine! (if it ain't broke, why "fix" it?).

Nope. The municipality says both units have to be listed as "compatible" on the AHRI (Air Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute) tables... and these aren't. Now, the AHRI doesn't perform its own testing; it gets tables of matching units from the manufacturers. But... the manufacturers only test units within given "families" of their product lines -- not between actually-compatible, "cross-family" units of their own product lines.

I called the AHRI -- they refused to speak with me... only with manufacturers.
I called Goodman -- they refused to connect me with Technical Support (only for "in-the-trade")

So, this is another example of regulatory capture. That is, the municipality wants to "protect" me/us from "unscrupulous" or "unknowing" individuals (think: fly-by-night roofs and driveways). The inspector isn't an HVAC engineer or vo-tech school graduate, nor was he ever an HVAC employee. Neither is his boss. OTOH, my contractor is -- a vo-tech school graduate, state-certified, with 20+ years hands-on experience in HVAC... and he knows Goodman (he's one of their distributors) and he knows what's compatible.

How can I fight City Hall... and win? The new, "compatible" air handler will cost me $2,000 installed.

Original condenser: Goodman VSX130241
Original air handler: Goodman AWUF240516
New condenser: Goodman GSXM402410AA