Heat Pumps and Electric Heating - Heat Pump Help...

I have a Tempstar 5000 heatpump heating my 1600sqf townhome. The repair tech came out, stated that the heat pump was not holding a charge and that the unit would have to be replaced. He placed the system on aux heat only.

1. How will this affect my electric bill?

2. How much are heat pumps of this size, and is it possible to just replace the outside unit.


Notes: Called tech for service becasue heatpump would turn on and off within seconds of turning on, and it was also blowing cold air. :wall:

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1. How will this affect my electric bill?
It will go up quite a bit... Plan on getting this changed out soon, or keep the temp as low you can take it.


2. How much are heat pumps of this size, and is it possible to just replace the outside unit.
Get a few bids, and you really should match both indoor and out door unit to get the full SEER/EER rating of your new equipment, otherwise mismatching is going to cost you the same or more to run, than a matching equipment.


Notes: Called tech for service becasue heatpump would turn on and off within seconds of turning on, and it was also blowing cold air.
It could of been tripping on and off on the pressure switch in the system.

As already stated running on your heat strips alone will increase your electric bill. This is not a solution and the heat strips will not keep you cool in the summer so....

If your system is around 15 years old I'd replace everything. The newer units have much better SEER/HPFS ratings then those of even a few years ago. If you can afford it consider a two stage HP and air handler. Keep and eye on the HPFS ratings of the two stage units though.

Yep, if the system is getting old then just suck it up and replace the whole thing. If the system is NOT that old then I would have him show me the leak and discuss it from there.

Did he say where the leak was??? Lots of time its in the inside coil. You can just just get a new coil there. AS said if old get it all new inside and out.

he stated that he believed the leak to be at the outside. The inside unit looks good ti him and he stated that it most likely would not need to be replaced. He attempted to recharge the system from the outside unit, however, the numbers on the guages did not move when we tried to put 5-10lbs in. Therefore, I suppose it is the outside unit. All he said I need to make the outside work with the inside unit is a piece that changes the pressure going into the house.....:wall:

You need to KNOW where the leak is not guess that could be an expensive guess, sounds to me like the indoor coil is hard to replace because if it is ten years or older it is a good candidate for leaking

james

Before I purchased a new system, I would get a second opinion. I want to know the following:

1.verify if you in fact actually have a leak
2.where is leak located?
3.Is leak repairable-many leaks are!
4.what is cost to repair?

good techs can locate leaks usually very easily with correct diagnostic tools/methods.

by going to emergency heat only, your heating bill will be 2 1/2 to three times more.

BTW,what is size and age of your system?

IMO

My system is about 12years old. As of right now, I am in a bind of some sort. I have a home warranty that is willing to give me 1500 towards replacement of the outside unit. This is with me only paying for the disposal of the freon. I am going to get some estimates provately, because I can cash out with my home warranty and they will give me the 1500 and I can have it done on my own.

james

the 1500 seems like a good deal for you over any repair. However, i recommend a complete matched system-both inside air handler(var spd preferred) and outside condenser. I would want a correctly sized and rated system with following metrics-14 SEER, 12 EER, 8.5+ HSPF.

Good LucK!
:)