Heating and air conditioning - Heat Pump Question/Advice

Author

Heat Pump Question/Advice

kengardner@gmail.com

2005-10-28, 9:21 pm

I have a GE Zoneline Heat Pump in my condo that was installed in 1994 -
one of those below window units. My question regards the cycling of the
compressor during heating operation. Is it normal for the compressor to
cycle on and off (about 1 min on, and about two minutes off) during
operation? The fan runs constantly;while the compressor is on, you can
definately feel the heat, then the compressor shuts down and residual
heat is flows from the fan for about two minutes (and I can feel it
getting cooler till it's about the same temp as room with a fan).

Thanks for your help in determining if this is normal operation for a
heat pump.

Ken

..p.jm@see_my_sig_for_address.com

2005-10-28, 10:21 pm

On 28 Oct 2005 16:56:14 -0700, kengardner@gmail.com wrote:

>I have a GE Zoneline Heat Pump in my condo that was installed in 1994 -

This is not a home-moaner help group. Post in alt.home.repair

Click here every day to feed an animal that needs you today !!!

http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/

Paul ( pjm @ pobox . com ) - remove spaces to email me
'Some days, it's just not worth chewing through the restraints.'
'With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine.'
HVAC/R program for Palm PDA's
Free demo now available online http://pmilligan.net/palm/

PrecisionMachinisT

2005-10-28, 11:21 pm

<kengardner@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1130543774.720389.5XXXX@g44g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> I have a GE Zoneline Heat Pump in my condo that was installed in 1994 -
> one of those below window units. My question regards the cycling of the
> compressor during heating operation. Is it normal for the compressor to
> cycle on and off (about 1 min on, and about two minutes off) during
> operation? The fan runs constantly;while the compressor is on, you can
> definately feel the heat, then the compressor shuts down and residual
> heat is flows from the fan for about two minutes (and I can feel it
> getting cooler till it's about the same temp as room with a fan).
>
> Thanks for your help in determining if this is normal operation for a
> heat pump.
>

Could be normal, could be compressor going out on high head....

Turn the stat up to 90 deg in heat mode...the unit should embark unto a
long, forced recovery cycle--see if it exibits the above behaviour
during.....

IF it does, then clean / change any inside filters present....and if that
don't fix it, then suggest call in a pro.

--

SVL

Oscar_Lives

2005-10-29, 12:21 pm

<kengardner@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1130543774.720389.5XXXX@g44g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
>I have a GE Zoneline Heat Pump in my condo that was installed in 1994 -
> one of those below window units. My question regards the cycling of the
> compressor during heating operation. Is it normal for the compressor to
> cycle on and off (about 1 min on, and about two minutes off) during
> operation? The fan runs constantly;while the compressor is on, you can
> definately feel the heat, then the compressor shuts down and residual
> heat is flows from the fan for about two minutes (and I can feel it
> getting cooler till it's about the same temp as room with a fan).
>
> Thanks for your help in determining if this is normal operation for a
> heat pump.
>
> Ken

Trick or Treat
Feel the Heat
As you sit on your seat
and beat your meat!

kengardner@gmail.com

2005-10-29, 2:21 pm

Sorry Paul - I didn't realize you don't have the skills to help.

..p.jm@see_my_sig_for_address.com

2005-10-29, 2:21 pm

On 29 Oct 2005 09:17:25 -0700, kengardner@gmail.com wrote:

>Sorry Paul - I didn't realize you don't have the skills to help.

Blow me, XXXXXXX.

Click here every day to feed an animal that needs you today !!!

http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/

Paul ( pjm @ pobox . com ) - remove spaces to email me
'Some days, it's just not worth chewing through the restraints.'
'With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine.'
HVAC/R program for Palm PDA's
Free demo now available online http://pmilligan.net/palm/

kengardner@gmail.com

2005-10-29, 2:21 pm

HeatMan

2005-10-29, 6:21 pm

"PrecisionMachinisT" <precisionmachinist@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:2_qdnUfrkuh1Tv_enZ2dnUVZ_tKdnZ2d@scnresearch.com...
>
> <kengardner@gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:1130543774.720389.5XXXX@g44g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
>
> Could be normal, could be compressor going out on high head....
>

Think so? I was thinking about the LP switch, if it has one...

Power's Mechanical

2005-10-29, 7:21 pm

No - seriously Paul... it's ok... there there.... Please don't cry

because of your lack of skills. You just go feed the animals in your
sig file, and I'll seek someone who actually knows something. Hey - my
9 year old feeds animals too and doesn't know shit about heat pumps
either!

xxxx

Pj could probaby fix your HP in person. He cant fix or say what is
wrong from here. It could be a lot of things.

Paul is a XXXXXXX to the first degree and Ill love the day that he
turns up dead. If youre a moron and need some kind of HP
troubleshooting matrix buy his software. Over the years we have given
him enough info to get it right and its only fifty bucks. He needs
five sales a month to cover lot rent.

Fuck the critters, help feed Pj!

As for you, STFU, quit trying to save a buck and call someone who has
a clue. Most techs arent as stupid as you think and they wont rip you
off like you are worried about. Get off the net and go to the yellow
pages.

Oscar_Lives

2005-10-29, 9:21 pm

PrecisionMachinisT

2005-10-29, 10:21 pm

"HeatMan" <heatair@NOSPAM.yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:KbR8f.13517$wG.13461@bignews4.bellsouth.net...
>
> "PrecisionMachinisT" <precisionmachinist@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:2_qdnUfrkuh1Tv_enZ2dnUVZ_tKdnZ2d@scnresearch.com...
1994 -[color=darkred]
the[color=darkred]
to[color=darkred]
>
> Think so? I was thinking about the LP switch, if it has one...
>

Low charge then your saying ?

It seems to be picking up at least some heat...though, it probably does have
heat strips....

--

SVL

kengardner@gmail.com

2005-10-30, 1:21 am

Get off the net and go to the yellow
pages....

Yeah, tried that. Called three different companies, and all three said
they don't work on those sorts of units - all with 20 years of
experience. Called GE to have a tech out here, and they don't have a
tech in my area. I've been told this unit classifies more as an
appliance - though the unit is meant for the whole house. So yeah,
tried the yellow pages. Even called my condo association. As for cash;
sure - I have no problem forking over a thousand to replace it, or less
to have it repaired, and I'm not worried about being ripped off, but no
one has been willing to look at the damn thing, and hell, it might be
operating properly and I wouldn't know. If there was a manual, that's
the first thing I would have checked out. Nada. I know techs aren't
stupid - I was a Machinery Techincian for 11 years in the Coast Guard
and in the Army. I even assisted on maintaining HVAC units (Diesel and
Hydraulics were my speciality though). I just haven't worked on heat
pumps before - just straight AC units or boilers. I got out to become a
High School physics teacher. As for alt.home.repair - why would I post
there when you have to be certified to work on HVAC units? Guys here
work on units big and small - units that cool an office building to a
friggen window unit. I don't think the average home repairman has the
training to work on any sort of this equipment; those are the clueless
ones. Sure, maybe a countertop - but heating and A/C units?

SVL - the unit performs the same on high thermostat settings. On it's
lowest setting it shuts off. Regardless, I have a few military buddies
who will probably help me out. Sorry the group couldn't help this
former serviceman.

2005-10-30, 1:21 am

kengardner@gmail.com wrote:

> Get off the net and go to the yellow
> pages....
>
> Yeah, tried that. Called three different companies, and all three said
> they don't work on those sorts of units - all with 20 years of
> experience. Called GE to have a tech out here, and they don't have a
> tech in my area. I've been told this unit classifies more as an
> appliance - though the unit is meant for the whole house. So yeah,
> tried the yellow pages. Even called my condo association. As for cash;
> sure - I have no problem forking over a thousand to replace it, or less
> to have it repaired, and I'm not worried about being ripped off, but no
> one has been willing to look at the damn thing, and hell, it might be
> operating properly and I wouldn't know. If there was a manual, that's
> the first thing I would have checked out. Nada. I know techs aren't
> stupid - I was a Machinery Techincian for 11 years in the Coast Guard
> and in the Army. I even assisted on maintaining HVAC units (Diesel and
> Hydraulics were my speciality though). I just haven't worked on heat
> pumps before - just straight AC units or boilers. I got out to become a
> High School physics teacher. As for alt.home.repair - why would I post
> there when you have to be certified to work on HVAC units? Guys here
> work on units big and small - units that cool an office building to a
> friggen window unit. I don't think the average home repairman has the
> training to work on any sort of this equipment; those are the clueless
> ones. Sure, maybe a countertop - but heating and A/C units?
>
> SVL - the unit performs the same on high thermostat settings. On it's
> lowest setting it shuts off. Regardless, I have a few military buddies
> who will probably help me out. Sorry the group couldn't help this
> former serviceman.

It's normal operation if you are running it in heat pump mode when it's
too warm outside (It may be cutting off on a head pressure switch or on
a high temp sensor). It's normal if you're running it when it's too cold
outside (most PTAC units don't have a defrost cycle and will cut off on
a freeze stat or sensor on the outdoor coil tubing to prevent frosting,
and switch to strip heat if present). It's normal operation if you have
the airflow restricted and/or recirculating due to furniture location
etc. It's normal if it's oversized for the space.

Otherwise no, it isn't normal, and could be related to any number of
system problems. If you can't get anyone out to look at it then you
probably haven't tried hard enough. I'm not attempting to be
condescending here, just objective

You might want to look into the issues that I raised above that aren't
system faults before continuing your attempt to get someone out. HTH and
much thanks for your service to my country.

hvacrmedic

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