Heat pump compressor died. When/what to replace?

[kendallf]

The compressor on our new house's heat pump died a few days ago; I finally noticed during a cold night this week when it was blowing cold air and I realized the compressor wasn't running.  The emergency heat in the air handler still works fine, so I'm able to heat the house in short bursts if I need to.

Now I'm trying to decide what to replace it with and when.  More info: the compressor is a 2001 R22 refrigerant model.  I could replace it with another R22 unit, which are only sold "dry" without refrigerant, and then pay stupid prices for R22 to fill it.  Ballpark prices range from $1k to 2k (low end I buy parts and install, which I haven't done but can probably figure out).

I've already gotten a couple of quotes on new complete systems that would be more efficient.  Prices ranging from $2500 (I install) to $3000 (Goodman unit installed with 10 yr warranty); the baseline now is 13 SEER and a 14.5 SEER unit would run about $500 more.  The tax credit and local utility rebate would basically cover that difference.

The cheap side of me wants to just replace the bad parts; the longer term analysis says that the new system with better SEER rating would probably pay for the difference in a few years.  Talking to several friends who are HVAC installers/techs, none of the brands really emerges as a clear reliability leader.

Advice?  Anecdotes?  Anybody think the tax credit will be extended into 2014 so I could wait a few months?

[Rural]

My gut reaction is to replace the system, not just the compressor. If it's old enough for the compressor to die, how long before the fan goes, too? Replace both and you're over the cost of a new system, at lower efficiency.

The heat strip backup is a major power suck, by the way. If you can, you'll be best served to do something about it sooner rather than later.

[Boz86]

Not advice, but a resource for you: http://ecorenovator.org/forum/geothermal-heat-pumps/

Lots of info there on DIY HVAC.

[kendallf]

Thanks for the replies!  I'll look at the link; I'm always ready to learn new practical stuff.  :-)