heat pump problem

[dchou]

We have a Trane Weathertron XE 1200 hear pump. The outdoor unit does not seem to be working at all at any time of day( the fan does not move and there is no noise). The indoor unit seems to be on all the time. Cool air comes out of the vents and the house does stay fairly warm. The blue auxillary light seems to be on all the time. We have the thermostat set to about 67 degrees F. We changed the filter last month. Our bill last month was a lot higher than usual for this time of year. What might be wrong and what can we check before calling in a tech ($250 just to walk in the door)?
---Deb in Maryland

[mattison]

1st make sure the t-stat is set for heat and not emergency heat. Also go check your breakers to make sure nothing is turned off for the outdoor unit.

[dchou]

I checked the breakers, and nothing is turned off to the outside unit. The t-stat is set to regular "heat". I keep turning the t-stat down so that the emergency heat turns off, but it eventually kicks in again.
---Deb