Air Conditioning - Help! An appeal to the HVAC gurus before my wife kills me!

Yeah, I'm stubborn and she's starting to get alittle cold and impatient... If it needs servicing, fine, but I'd like to have an idea of what the cause is (or perhaps I can fix it?!)...

Here's the scoop:

Equipment: 3-year old Gibson 10 Seer (GT3BA Series) AC/Heat unit

The inside fan blows all the time whether the thermostat is on or not. It blows cold air because the outside unit doesn't do anything... (It would normally turn on when the thermostat kicks in...bare with me, I'm new at this..). When I turn on the AC, the inside fan continues to run, the outside unit makes a big click but doesn't go on. I checked what looks to be fuses on the inside blower and outside unit and they look OK-brand new and seemingly not blown. I turned the fuse on and off from the fusebox to try and "reset" something (?!) but no luck.
At least we're in Charleston, SC, so it doesn't get ~that~ cold....

Any suggestions? Thanks very much!!! -Chris

"The inside fan blows all the time whether the thermostat is on or not"
just humor me and make sure the fan selector on the thermostat is set to "auto" and not "on"
check the power feed in your main panel . should be marked heat pump or something like that. there may be another panel that feeds the unit. if you don't know which breaker contols the unit don't tell racecraft. he'll spank you.
it sounds like you are getting power to the compressor "clicking noise" you described.
next, go to the bathroom and look in the mirror. get closer.... closer... do you like what you see? now, ask yourself.... is that face you see really worth not calling a repair man ?
good luck :D

Hey Flopshot,
Thanks for the reply. I am dumb but not that dumb :) Fan is on Auto and runs even when the thermostat is on "off." Breakers are good to go. Just looking for a possible quick and easy fix before calling the pros. Any suggestions on what it may be so that I have an idea and don't get taken advantage of would be great.

Thanks again,
Chris

not really and expert. i was just trying to cover the basics and rule out the simple. oh well, so much for that. sounds now like it may be a control board in the system or some other alien supplied component i know nothing about. hang around awhile and i'm sure someone more knowledgable on the subject will be along. there's some very good folks around here that may
be able to help you. in the mean time, get her a blanket, give her the remote, and do the dishes. we wouldn't want you getting hurt. :thumbup:

Thanks flopshot! Got earmuffs for the little missus and we will get through...
Thanks again for your help.

Chris

--When I turn on the AC, the inside fan continues to run, the outside unit makes a big click but doesn't go on. --

Do you hear the click when you switch the thermostat to heat?

Is it a heatpump or air conditioner?

If its an air conditioner then on a call for heat you shouldn't get anything happening outside. There should be electric heat in the air handler inside.

If its a heatpump there should also be electric heat in the air handler. (emergency heat)

A big click to me sounds like the contactor is pulling in. If the contactor is pulling in it means it is being energised. (Depending on the equipment this control power can come from the inside unit or outside unit) This doesn't mean that there is power to the rest of the condensing unit. Check fuses. Even a loose wire somewhere in the condensing unit can prevent anything it from starting.

--I checked what looks to be fuses on the inside blower and outside unit and they look OK-brand new and seemingly not blown. --

To properly check fuses you need a multimeter. I recommend contacting a service guy because this could be a difficult one to solve without some technical background and there are really too many variables to consider.

Gus

Thanks Gus!

It is a heat pump and AC together in on unit. Normally, in layman's terms (ie my terms), turning on either the AC or the heat resulted in the unit turning on an making noice (running). It only clicks when I switch to "cool" from "off." Nothing happens when I switch from "off" to "heat."

Thanks agin for your help!

If you have a voltmeter & know how to use it, remove the control access panel on the outdoor unit & check voltage across the two big wires going to the contactor. There should be about 220 volts.