Heat pump fan does not always run when it should. Compressor runs and sometimes hear loud hum as thought something was trying to start. The compressor fan sometimes will try to rotate but moves a jerky 5 or so degrees but doesn't start. Hum will eventually stop but compressor stays running with no fan operation for hours. All this time slightly warm air (70 to 80) comes from registers. Occasionally the fan starts up and everything seems normal. Other times it will run for hours this way. Obviously the home gets real cold this way. Other times on a call for heat the compressor and fan both start normally and seem to run until the thermostat is satisfied. Have not been able to determine if fans stops during normal operation or if it just doesn't start at call for heat or as it comes off a defrost cycle. More observations about the compressor fan: Sometimes if the fan hasn't started with the compressor I have been able to give the fan a helping start by pulling with a wire hooked on a fan blade. Several attempts are sometimes enough to allow it to run full speed. Other times it tries to start but turns very slowly and if it doesn't soon get up to speed it stops turning altogether. I have also found that if I turn the thermostat down when the fan is not running, wait 5 minutes then turn up the thermostat it may start when the compressor starts.

I finished my basement last winter and we are just now really using the baseboard heat. The main living area is about 20x16, has 8' ceilings and is being heated by two four ft' electric units mount next to one another on the back wall. Done over, I would have seperated them. Regardless, when I turn the thermostat to 70, for example, the area above the heater on the wall gets so hot it's uncomfortable for me to keep my hand on the wall for more than a few moments. To me, it's almost like the heater needs a baffle to direct the heat out more into the room instead of back against the wall. Not sure, but it worries me that the wall may get too hot and catch fire. We don't leave it unattended, but still---it's hot and I'm not certain that it should be. I almost wonder if it's running non stop because it can't keep the room warm. As a result, it never cycles and is causing the wall to get too hot. Don't know----too many thoughts. What are yours? Thanks in advance! Shumax