• There has been a recent cluster of spammers accessing BARFer accounts and posting spam. To safeguard your account, please consider changing your password. It would be even better to take the additional step of enabling 2 Factor Authentication (2FA) on your BARF account. Read more here.

HVAC: heat pump...fans are a spinning, no cold air

gnahc79

gnahc79

Fear me!
Joined
Apr 16, 2003
Location
SJ
Moto(s)
snoozing
The earliest the HVAC company that installed our heat pump back in 2013 can come out is over 10 days out. Last night the A/C was working just fine. This morning, when I turn on the A/C I hear all the fans power on but no cold air. I changed the filter in the upstairs A/C unit and vacuumed the intake vent...no change. The thermostat seems to work ok, I turned down the temp a bunch..to 71F and still nothing.

any ideas? just wait for the HVAC tech?
 
A gizmo somewhere that tells the heatpump to engage is borked.

Unless iit'sunder warranty there is no reason to stay with the installer. Call another company?
 
we have 10yrs covered for parts, so that's why I'm staying with them (Pelle). the 2 yr labor warranty does not apply anymore though.
 
Is the fan on the condenser (outside) running?

If yes:
Do you hear the pump? it will have a low drone to it.

Is the air coming from the fan warmer than the outside air? you will be able to feel this with your hand.

Reach down and feel the two pipes coming out of the bottom, is one cold, and one hot?

If they are hot, and it's running, open the evaporator (inside) and check that's it's not iced up on the coil.

If it's not running:
Check the breaker.
If the breaker is fine, open the side panel just above where the power goes in, you will find a blinking light, count the blinks, and report back.

Also look that the condenser coil (radiator looking thing all around the outside). Is it dirty? Weeds, animal fur, leaves, dead babies? You can turn off the breaker and hose it down to clean this. You should actually be doing this once a month to keep its efficiency up.
 
Last edited:
thanks for the help! some info below
shouldnthave said:
Is the fan on the condenser (outside) running? Yes

If yes:
Do you hear the pump? it will have a low drone to it. I hear the fan, but am not sure if I hear a low drone really

Is the air coming from the fan warmer than the outside air? you will be able to feel this with your hand. Nope, the air from the fan on the condenser is about the same as the outside air

Reach down and feel the two pipes coming out of the bottom, is one cold, and one hot? Neither. Both feel air temp, I checked the pipes in the first pic below, hope those are the right ones

If they are hot, and it's running, open the evaporator (inside) and check that's it's not iced up on the coil.

If it's not running:
Check the breaker.
If the breaker is fine, open the side panel just above where the power goes in, you will find a blinking light, count the blinks, and report back.

Also look that the condenser coil (radiator looking thing all around the outside). Is it dirty? Weeds, animal fur, leaves, dead babies? You can turn off the breaker and hose it down to clean this. You should actually be doing this once a month to keep its efficiency up.
The coil is very clean since it is under our outside staircase. A row of bushes are in front of the condenser as well, see pic below
Click to expand...
 

Attachments

  • 20160812_180909.jpg
    20160812_180909.jpg
    92.8 KB · Views: 21
  • 20160812_180802.jpg
    20160812_180802.jpg
    142.7 KB · Views: 17
Shoot, this may be bad news. How handy are you, and do you have a multi-meter?

If the fan is running that means we have power, and most likely we don't have a fault. This normally means one of two things, the compressor has seised, or you have lost the charge.

If you are handy, and have a meter, turn off the power to the unit, and open the cover just above where the power enters. It is on the top right corner of the first pic. In it you will see the motherboard, look for any blinking LED lights. You will also find a contractor that looks like a large rectangle box sometimes black, but mostly brown. Turn the breaker back on, and check the power on both the top, and the bottom lugs of the contractor. Do you have 240 on the top, and 240 on the bottom? Do you have a blinking light on the motherboard?
 
Have someone turn the AC down all the way and stand outside near the unit. You should hear a click when the compressor turns on. If you don't, then you have a start to resolving your issue.

Likely, you'll have to wait for your AC company.
 
I'm not comfortable doing anything you just posted, I had a heck of a time replacing a bathroom faucet cartridge a while back :laughing.
Dumb question, it sounds like a part (or several) has failed on the condenser. If so I'm covered by the 10 yr warranty from Pelle. Will the labor involved in fixing this be $$$?
 
RightCoastBias said:
Have someone turn the AC down all the way and stand outside near the unit. You should hear a click when the compressor turns on. If you don't, then you have a start to resolving your issue.

Likely, you'll have to wait for your AC company.
Click to expand...

If the fan is running, the thermostat is already calling. I'm trying to check if the contactor went out.
 
gnahc79 said:
I'm not comfortable doing anything you just posted, I had a heck of a time replacing a bathroom faucet cartridge a while back :laughing.
Dumb question, it sounds like a part (or several) has failed on the condenser. If so I'm covered by the 10 yr warranty from Pelle. Will the labor involved in fixing this be $$$?
Click to expand...

It's ok if you have gone as far as you can. If what has happened that I think has happened, you're looking at about 2-3 hours if these dudes aren't idiots. 5 hours if they have to replace the whole condenser with the second visit.

You could also just be off on hi-head too. If you know where the breaker is, turn it off for 30 minutes, and flip it back on. Most likely it isn't that though 15% possibility.
 
shouldnthave said:
It's ok if you have gone as far as you can. If what has happened that I think has happened, you're looking at about 2-3 hours if these dudes aren't idiots. 5 hours if they have to replace the whole condenser with the second visit.

You could also just be off on hi-head too. If you know where the breaker is, turn it off for 30 minutes, and flip it back on. Most likely it isn't that though 15% possibility.
Click to expand...

this I can do :). just flipped the breakers for the A/C off.
 
flipped the breakers back on...no change. looks like I'll just have to wait.
 
Same symptoms Warm air while AC is on. Thermostat is good and outside condenser fan blows. It turned out to be the Condenser Contactor.
Contactor is a heavy duty relay.

[youtube]C7yj8q8Tnbw[/youtube]

[youtube]y4sx84SHMlw[/youtube]

It relatively easy to replace. The important part is taking safety precautions. When your ready to replace parts, turn off electrical breakers to the AC unit. Turn the House Main breaker off if you like. The Wiring leading to the compressor has a box that contains circuit bars. Pull the bar out to open the circuit.
Still be careful the capacitors hold a voltage and still can zap ya. Careful not to make skin contact with any metal parts while replacing the Contactor.

Use the Make and Model of the unit to order the new Contactor.
 
If you do not know what this is and how to use it. Do not work on your AC. Cheaper to pay a person who know what they are doing.
Voltmeter.jpg
 
bikeama said:
If you do not know what this is and how to use it. Do not work on your AC. Cheaper to pay a person who know what they are doing.
Voltmeter.jpg
Click to expand...

:laughing Man, haven't seen one of those in a long time. Always felt like I was gonna break it with how hard that puck slammed to full scale on a 480 circuit.
 
My guess is the start capacitor on the compressor has failed.
 
Start cap or the contactor itself. Very easy for a knowledgeable electrical guy to troubleshoot. The problem is finding somebody who isn't going to just try to sell you parts.
 
bikeama said:
If you do not know what this is and how to use it. Do not work on your AC. Cheaper to pay a person who know what they are doing.
Voltmeter.jpg
Click to expand...

I know what this is:thumbup. And I'm not comfortable doing anything to my AC :D. I see the youtube videos on how to replace the contactor and cap and it's doable...but I don't want to be that guy thats says "Hey HVAC tech, so I saw these youtube videos and tried to replace both the contactor and capacitor myself. Then I smelled burning and..." :laughing

I have no idea how to check that the only problems in the AC system are the contactor and capacitor. So I'll leave it to the pros...maybe if the tech is friendly he/she can show me how it all works.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top