Heat pump problem or wire problem

[jinian]

We had a bunch of cold days with high at 30F's recently. We live in central North Carolina. The heap pump (Trane, installed in 1989) stopped working totally. We turned the Emergency heat button on, no response; we turned the fan on, not working; we also turned to cool mode with temperature set to the low limit on my thermostat, nothing happened. We replaced with a brand new thermostat, still nothing started to work. Now, my question – is the heat pump broken or there are wire problems? I know nothing about heat pumps. I guess at least Emergency heat or fan should work even though the condenser or handler has problems. Any comments? Your help would be highly appreciated.

Thanks, Karen

[mattison]

Have you checked the breakers and the switch on the side of the indoor unit to make sure they are on?

If you take the t-stat off the wall and jump R + G the indoor blower should run. Let us know.

[Grady]

When checking the breakers, don't just look at them. Turn each one off then back on. Often on double pole breakers, one side will trip internally & not cause the handle to move. Do you have a voltmeter & know how to use it?

[scottg]

If your blower is in the attic check the float switch in the drain pan under the blower unit or air handler.
Sometimes when people put things in the attic the float switch gets hit and is set too low. :D

[Grady]

If your blower is in the attic check the float switch in the drain pan under the blower unit or air handler.
Sometimes when people put things in the attic the float switch gets hit and is set too low. :D

Since I don't see many aux pans with float switches, that one slipped right past me, good catch. :thumbup:

[scottg]

Grady,
My 13 year old child answered that one.
Here in the Carolina's we have a lot of them in attic spaces.

[Grady]

Grady,
My 13 year old child answered that one.
Here in the Carolina's we have a lot of them in attic spaces.

He or she want a job? Could probably be my boss. :D :D :D

[scottg]

He has been riding with me since he was 7. He is a keeper. Nice and small, easy to get to those tiny spaces. LOL

[jinian]

Thanks for all the helps.

The breakers look fine. We tried to jump R+G as Kool-Aid suggested, the blower didn't run. The blower is in the crawl space. We have a voltmeter, but don't know how to use it.

Since our heat pump is pretty old, maybe it's time to replace it. Is Kenmore a good brand?

Thanks, Karen

[Changeling]

Karen, On the back of the heat pump (the out door unit) there is a button ( usually red). With the controls in the house (Thermostat) turned on, Press the button!
That will be $75.00, I have a minimum service fee, LOL. :D

Changeling

[mattison]

If jumping R+G did not turn on the indoor blower then it sounds like you've lost low voltage from the transformer. This would be from either the airhandler being turned off or the transformer is bad or a blown fuse. Without knowing how to use a multimeter I would reccomend you call a hvac contractor to take a look at it.