Help !!! It's Hot....Heat Pump doesn't run... - http://www.hvacmechanic.com/ Forums
Original message
| biffrennie
 |  "NOT COOL !!!....Heat Pump doesn't run..."
, posted Sun 20 Jun 01:47:  
Help!!! it's 88deg outside and 78deg inside. Heat pump doesn't come on when house gets hot.. but recirc fan runs.
Heat pump is an OLD General Electric unit; not sure how old as it was here when I bought the house 5 years ago but, from the looks of it I am going to guess 15 to 20 years old and wouldn't be suprised if it were 25 years old.
Thermastat is a White-Rodgers heat pump thermastat which looks to be about the same age.
Checked breakers.... none were kicked off.
I'm pretty handy and have a VOM, but need some specific instructions to trouble shoot my heat pump symptoms.
My family would be greatful if someone would care to help with trouble shooting.
Update Edit: GE model# BWR736A100A6 and says Weathertron on it.
Thanks in advance.
[this message was edited by biffrennie on Sun 20 Jun 02:13] |
| Replies:
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| Xenos
Webmaster 
| "Re(1):NOT COOL !!!....Heat Pump doesn't run.." , posted Sun 20 Jun 13:39
Start by pushing in the contactor, does it start?
Xenos.
The best way to escape a problem is to solve it.
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| HVAC Doc
| "Re(1):NOT COOL !!!....Heat Pump doesn't run.." , posted Sun 20 Jun 08:12
Troubleshooting a heat pump can be tricky sight unseen. I would say the first thing to check is the outdoor disconnect at the a/c. See if it has fuses. If it does, remove them and ohm each fuse to see if they are good. If one is blown, you need to replace it with a similiar Slo-Blo type fuse. If fuses are good, verify there is indeed 200v. getting to the disconnect. We can go from there after you verify these two important things. Remember, be safe and no service call charge or discomfort due to heat is worth injury to yourself.
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| | biffrennie
| "Re(2):NOT COOL !!!....Heat Pump doesn't run.." , posted Mon 21 Jun 01:42:
Thank You Gentlemen..... Heat Pump back on-line.
I didn't realize there were fuses in the cut-off switch near the heat pump.
I pulled the fuses and one of them was open.
Replaced the one bad slo-blo and we are cool again.
I initially just checked voltage on both sides of the fuses and still got 110,,, began un-buttoning the heat pump and remembered you suggested pulling them for an ohm check, so I went ahead and did that and found the one bad one. If the fuse is bad, why do I get voltage on both ends of the fuse???
And lastly, since these are of the time-delay type of fuses, what types of occurances could make the fuse blow??
I just worry that one of the heat pump components is beginning to fail, drawing too many amps, and blowing the fuse??
Like a $pendy compressor.
Oh, and one more thing, the fan has connections using wire nuts, but I noticed that the wire nuts are oriented with the open end up. Seems odd to me,, I would think with rain pouring through the top, the wire nuts would be installed open end down, or a more sealed type of connector used.
Thanks to you guys, I was able to solve the problem with a $3.68 part.
[this message was edited by biffrennie on Mon 21 Jun 01:45] |
| | HVAC Doc
| "Re(3):NOT COOL !!!....Heat Pump doesn't run.." , posted Mon 21 Jun 07:28
Well could be any number of things. My first thought is how long has it been since you had it serviced? Plugged condenser coils especially on a hot day can cause excessive amp draw. Definately not good with wire nuts facing up like that. You could put just a touch of clear silicon in the open end of the wire nuts to seal them up. Clear silicon peels off if ever needed for repairs. Wire connections internally could have loosened and have corrosion/arcing problems. Contactor could be dirty under contacts or have become severly pitted. If you cannot remember the last time it was serviced, it is probably time for a good clean and check on it.
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