Silly question...how do we know if we have a heat pump?
#1
02-26-05, 11:24 AM
Silly question...how do we know if we have a heat pump?
My husband and I bought our first home this past summer. We recently purchased a digital t'stat from Honeywell and have noticed that our outside unit is running from time to time...sometimes seems constant for a few hours. We never really noticed it before with our old t'stat, but we weren't exactly paying attention either. How can a person tell if they even have a heat pump? All of our appliances are about 20 years old or so and I can't get any information from Ruud (outside unit) or Lennox (inside) so that they can tell me what I've got. Naturally they aren't available to take questions on Saturdays. Any advice?
Thanks!
Mars
Thanks!
Mars
#2
02-26-05, 11:54 AM
When you set the tstat to heat and call for heat. Does the inside blower come on??? Does the out door unit come on?? If so is the big copper line from it to the inside coil hot?. check for a clean clean air filter
post back in this same post and some one can help
ED
post back in this same post and some one can help
ED
#3
02-26-05, 12:13 PM
Right now I just went out and checked to see if the outside unit was on again, and it is. I felt by the vents and warm air is coming out of the vents, although sometimes we do feel cool air coming in, but not cold like it would be in the summer. I checked our furnace and it sounds like it is also running. When you say "the big copper line from it to the inside coil," are you referring to the outside unit? I'm heating and air impaired. Now, to top my ignorance, you're going to love this...we can't find the furnace filter to check it. I'm quite sure the filter needs to be changed, as we have been here for a few months already, but we can't locate it. It sounds ridiculous even as I type. I feel like an idiot. 
#4
02-26-05, 12:35 PM
Okay...Just went outside to check the outside unit again. There are three things coming off of the outside unit. One larger pipe, one smaller pipe, and a rubber hose looking thing. (Don't you love my descriptions?) There is also a metal box on the side of the house...I'm assuming electric. The larger pipe is warm-to-hot to the touch and goes into the unit. The smaller pipe runs along side the larger pipe and is not warm.
When I came inside to check the temperature of the air coming out of the vents it was cold at first and then as I was standing there it turned hot. Also, I'm either losing my mind or I could swear I heard the sound of trickling water coming from the vent.
The outside unit is a Ruud UACC024JAS. The inside furnace unit is a Lennox Duraglass GII. I'm not sure how old it is, but there is an inspection sticker on there from 1976, so it's very clearly almost 30 years old at least. The house was built in 1968, so this could very well be the original furnace.
If there is anything else you need to know that would help you, by all means tell me...I'm dying to get this figured out.
Thanks!
Mars
When I came inside to check the temperature of the air coming out of the vents it was cold at first and then as I was standing there it turned hot. Also, I'm either losing my mind or I could swear I heard the sound of trickling water coming from the vent.
The outside unit is a Ruud UACC024JAS. The inside furnace unit is a Lennox Duraglass GII. I'm not sure how old it is, but there is an inspection sticker on there from 1976, so it's very clearly almost 30 years old at least. The house was built in 1968, so this could very well be the original furnace.
If there is anything else you need to know that would help you, by all means tell me...I'm dying to get this figured out.
Thanks!
Mars
#5
02-26-05, 12:38 PM
Hey dont feel bad everyone has to start some where.
Yes that big copper line should be hot out at the outside unit when it is running. For a heat pump and the little line cool
Cool then warm air and water sound could be it is in defrost ?? was outside unit bloeing cold air or warm air at that time??
If you cant find the fliter "and you have to". call some one in and go over the whole set up with you so you kind of know how it all works and what you have to kind of take care of yourself.
ED
Yes that big copper line should be hot out at the outside unit when it is running. For a heat pump and the little line cool
Cool then warm air and water sound could be it is in defrost ?? was outside unit bloeing cold air or warm air at that time??
If you cant find the fliter "and you have to". call some one in and go over the whole set up with you so you kind of know how it all works and what you have to kind of take care of yourself.
ED
#6
02-26-05, 12:43 PM
Okay. Sounds like we have a heat pump then. That's very helpful. I'll have to have someone come in and see if they can help us out as far as filters go. My father is on his way in to pick up the grandchildren, so maybe he'll have some idea.
Thanks for all your help!
Mars
Thanks for all your help!
Mars
