What could be wrong with our heat pump?

Question

Okay, tonight my mom told me that the house didn't seem to be as cool as it was, apparently compared to even last night. We have the central heating/air vents in each room...and the heat pump setup for heat and air. The air doesn't seem as cold as normal, that's for sure. And I'm not completely sure yet (it's too late to check it now, so we just cut it off for the night), but I don't remember hearing the heat pump part outside come on. It certainly didn't seem to be on earlier when the somewhat cool air was blowing. We have some more machine stuff installed in the basement...which is the other half of the heat pump system, of course. That comes on, and that has to be what is blowing the somewhat cool air. I know the typing pat answer to this question: "Have someone come look at it". And we will. But surely someone out there has some suggestion as to what it could be.

I do know enough to know that there are various parts in that heat pump outside. Looks like a compressor of some type at the bottom, and it has that fan at the top that could quit working. It sure as heck didn't suddenly "run out of freon"...something seems to be going on with it mechanically. Any suggestions? My mom wondered if it could damage the system by having the air on running from the machines in the basement, without the heat pump. The whole system was put in new...probably in about '97 or 98...something like that.

Answer 1

This may seem to be a dumb idea if you've already done it but have you checked your breaker box. When was the last time your heat pump was serviced?? should be done once a year. Is your heat pump level if not it may have more wear and tear then you think. These heat pumps are really only good for 15 yrs. about so maybe it is has croaked early. The air only will not damage anything.

Answer 2

There are several things that may be wrong with your system. Most are fairly simple depending on how mechanically inclined you happen to be.
1) first check your fuses and breakers. there will usually be a main breaker in a box in the house, and sometimes a service disconnect with fuses at the heat pump section outside.
2)The problem may be in the control wiring in the air handler (inside section) or going to the HP or thermistat. Try putting the system in heat and see if the HP comes on outside.
3)Is there an emergency drain pan under the air handler? sometimes the installer will wire the overflow switch in this pan to kill the outside unit only instead of the whole system.
4)The reversing valve in the HP may be messed up. Have someone stand outside and wait for the unit to start. If the unit starts they may hear a hissing sound as the valve energizes and redirects the refrigerant flow. For that matter see if they hear anything.
5)If you hear a buzzing sound coming from the HP the capacitor may have gone bad. You can try spinning the fan with a screw driver to see if it starts if not the motor windings may be burned out. Feel the freon lines to see if they change temperature. The large line should get cold as the small one warms up. If not, your compressor is not running. which may be an open winding or a bad capacitor.
6)And of course your system may be low on charge as mentioned before, causing it to freeze up.
Hope this helps, wish I was there to help you.

Answer 3

If the fan on the outside unit isn't working, then the compressor will not run, hence no cold air in the house. The fan motor could be shot, or capacitor that runs the fan. The only way to be sure is to stand outside and have someone switch the thermostat to cool. If you hear the compressor run for a little, but the fan doesn't run, it's the fan motor or capacitor. If the outside fan runs, but you don't hear the compressor, might be the compressor is seized up. Yes you can safely use "fan only" setting on the thermostat, it will just circulate the indoor air.

Answer 4

Sometimes when your outside condenser gets low on freon it runs too much and freezes up. Look inside and outside of the unit to see if it has ice build-up on it. If it does, then cutting the unit off for enough time for the ice to melt will temporarily solve the problem. It will ice up again but probably over the next two or three days. Get the freon checked in the mean time. If it isn't iced up, you may just have a bad relay switch. This is easily replaced. Worst case, your compressor may be going out. Is it making any abnormal noise when the outside condenser runs? Squeeking etc? Sometimes it may ice up from a compressor going bad too.

Answer 5

Check the breaker panel. Reset the AC breaker if it tripped off. There are usually one single for the air circulator and a double for the compressor unit. If this doesn't work, call an HVAC tech.

Answer 6

Have your Trane repairman service your unit. sounds like it desires to be recharged and have the coils wiped clean the two interior out. replace your Filters religiously each month particularly for the time of the months whilst pollen and airborne dirt and mud concentrations are severe.