39
votes
How can I protect a frozen heat pump in cold weather while waiting for service?
Running AUX heat continuously is fine. It's just expensive, compared to your heat pump.
You likely have one of these problems:
Low refrigerant: You should not be losing refrigerant. The refrigerant ...
- 21.1k
31
votes
Why would a particular heat pump model be illegal in my state?
While the SEER given on the label is in compliance with the regional standards for the Southwest, it must also meet an EER standard. Specifically, the regional standards are:
Southwest (AZ, CA, NM, ...
- 411
29
votes
Accepted
Why would a particular heat pump model be illegal in my state?
I live in a high-altitude part of New Mexico, where I don't need to use much A/C, but need a more efficient heater for the winters.
Then you're looking at the wrong figure.
The number you're ...
12
votes
Accepted
Is it possible to upgrade A/C to a heat pump by only replacing outside unit?
YES, basically.
Because the only real difference in the outdoor unit is a reversing valve and possibly some sensors to detect freeze-up when running in heat mode, and some code. If I were king, there'...
11
votes
What causes a heatpump to freeze?
There are many possible causes but some of the more common ones are:
Clogged drain
Dirty filter
Excess humidity in the house
Blocked air return or outlet duct
Get it thawed out and make sure that ...
- 23.1k
10
votes
Why would a particular heat pump model be illegal in my state?
I think this statement from a Carrier product page might hold the answer:
This model may not be eligible for installation in the Southwest region of the country, based on Department of Energy minimum ...
- 419
10
votes
Why would a particular heat pump model be illegal in my state?
The chart indicates that the heatpump could do much better. It's at 14.3 while the chart goes from 14 to 19. This suggests that there are more efficient heatpumps that you can acquire.
Doing a random ...
- 11.6k
10
votes
What is my heat pump doing, that uses so much electricity in such an erratic way?
The heating of the apartment is done with underfloor heating with hydronic elements.
Then you have a circulation pump. That probably explains the "high" standby power use, as 50 W is ...
- 1,220
10
votes
LED lights constantly flicker when heat pump is running
The HVAC company brought you bulbs because they want you to go away. That's fine; unless they are the ones who did the service upgrade, this probably isn't their responsibility. It's more likely that ...
- 9,197
10
votes
LED lights constantly flicker when heat pump is running
An HVAC company doing an electrical service upgrade? Get a licensed electrician in there and have them give the system a once-over. There are many things to mess up, and HVAC outfits are notorious ...
8
votes
Is there such a thing as a DIY heat pump or mini split
Yes, there is. The problem is that a mini-split is, after all, split. That means the pipes between compressor and evaporator are custom fit and routed through your house. Obviously, you can't fill ...
8
votes
Accepted
Why does my heat pump "blow" at warm (even hot) outdoor temperatures? Should not it be inactive?
The heat pump is also responsible for heating hot water (also a feature), is that the reason for the blowing?
Yes, hot water in a the tank (which is well above ambient temperatures) will slowly cool ...
- 11.6k
8
votes
Accepted
Best way to re-route the water from AC drip line
Two proposals
1- Extend the drip pipe to the grass using a pvc pipe of proper diameter
2- My preferred (I do it now), use a bucked to capture the very clean no minerals or calcium water (soft) to ...
- 16.9k
7
votes
Efficiency of a heat pump water heater during the winter
You are right that a unitary HPWH is a parasite heating load in the winter...
When most people think of a heat pump water heater, they think of the unitary heat pump water heaters that were mandated ...
- 81.7k
7
votes
Accepted
What is the incremental benefit of AC canned outdoor coil cleaner?
I use concentrated liquid and will consider it the same as canned cleaner.
Condenser cleaner or coil cleaner is formulated to take grease and oil out on top of the dirt. I use Nu-Calgon , Nu-Brite ...
- 102k
7
votes
Accepted
Electric Heat Pump Hot Water Heater Vented to Chimney?
That's an electric heat pump water heater, so no, the "exhaust" won't be acidic. It will be cooler household air, with no combustion products to acidify it.
Running it out a chimney has ...
- 202k
7
votes
Accepted
Couple of questions on the outside unit of a split heat and A/C installation
A refrigeration system (air conditioning, and also heat pumps) pumps refrigerant. The refrigerant is in liquid phase in the smaller tube (the "liquid line") and in gaseous phase in the ...
- 27.9k
6
votes
If my heat pump does not have a neutral, do I still need a neutral wire?
Neutral is not ground
That thing you are calling a "neutral bar" is bolted directly to the steel of the switch box. It cannot be a neutral, it must be a ground.
Neutral is an active, live conductor ...
6
votes
Accepted
How do you read this hydrometer?
Methanol is less dense than water. The more methanol in solution with water, the greater the freezing point depression and the lower the specific gravity. The bulb sinks more in the less dense fluid, ...
- 10.9k
6
votes
Accepted
Why does my heat pump quit in cold weather? Can I stop this?
It sounds like the outside part of the unit is freezing up and the automatic defrost part isn't working properly. Once the coils have defrosted, you start getting heat again.
Call the landlord now to ...
- 43.1k
6
votes
Best way to re-route the water from AC drip line
Put a "gutter splash block" (standard item) under it to route the water away from the house to the grass while keeping the pipe short (less potential of clogging the pipe and backing up .vs. ...
- 202k
5
votes
Accepted
Why don't heat pumps run for a bit BEFORE starting the air circulation fan?
I don't think the problem you're having would be solved by a fan delay. When the fan turns on, it has to purge all the "cold" air from the ducts, before the warm air reaches the registers. There's ...
- 131k
5
votes
Is there such a thing as a DIY heat pump or mini split
I thought DIY installation of a minisplit R-410A system was allowed. The condensing unit is precharged with refrigerant, and in at least some of these systems no soldering is required to connect the ...
- 20.9k
5
votes
Thermostat upgrade delivers heat instead of cooling
Move the orange wire on the troubled thermostat from O to B
What you are seeing here are fairly classic signs of getting your system's reversing valve control backwards. In order to do their fancy ...
- 81.7k
5
votes
Accepted
Run mini-split heat pump heads at different temperatures
It's complete BS. If that was actually a problem, then the system wouldn't let you do that.
- 21.1k
5
votes
Heat pump condensation drainage re-use potability or toxicity
It might be safe today, specifically; it is just condensation after all.
However, I am 99% certain that drain pan material inside A/C coils is not approved for potable water, nor is the PVC drain pipe....
- 16.5k
5
votes
How can I protect a frozen heat pump in cold weather while waiting for service?
One more place the problem may be, besides those already mentioned.
The outside unit's fan has a relay that is supposed to de-energize the fan during the defrost cycle. If this relay sticks closed, ...
- 6,765
5
votes
Accepted
What is the life expectancy of a heat pump? When does it usually need to be replaced?
We have been installing heat pumps for 70 years.
By and large they have been marketed as "air conditioners".
Yes. Those are heat pumps. For reasons which boggle me, very few were sold with ...
5
votes
Is it possible to upgrade A/C to a heat pump by only replacing outside unit?
AC/ Heat pump compressor units ( outside) and Air handlers (inside) are made to work together an be balanced properly. Trying to Adapt a compressor to something it was not designed to work with may ...
- 25.1k
5
votes
Best way to re-route the water from AC drip line
One thing that is done in some areas is the condensate drain line is run to a location under a bathroom sink and is tied into the drain line before the P-trap. All condensate goes down the houses ...
- 27.7k
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