Gas and Oil Home Heating Furnaces - Heat pump not working; coil heating only

My heat pump works fine in the A/C mode. However in the heat mode, the heat pump does not come on. Only the fan comes on and the electrical heating elements. It Heats the house, but it is not functioning properly. What do you think would cause the heat pump not to come on?

Need more info: Is it a split or package? If split, have you physically looked to see if the outdoor unit is on? or frozen? Check in both a/c and heat? Check your fuses/breakers? Are you sure it's a heat pump? Keeping the house warm makes me think you have straight electric heat with a/c.

[This message has been edited by fjrachel (edited November 24, 2000).]

[This message has been edited by fjrachel (edited November 24, 2000).]

Thanks for the reply. Here are the answers to your questions: It is a split package (an outside unit and another unit under the house which holds the fan and some AC cooling coils). I have physically checked the outside unit unit and it does come on for the AC only. Does this mean it is not frozen? There is a separate breaker located outside for it and it is on. How can I check to see if it is straight electric heat with AC? I have no paper work for it. I simply assumed it was a heat pump.

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by fjrachel:
Need more info: Is it a split or package? If split, have you physically looked to see if the outdoor unit is on? or frozen? Check in both a/c and heat? Check your fuses/breakers? Are you sure it's a heat pump? Keeping the house warm makes me think you have straight electric heat with a/c.

[This message has been edited by fjrachel (edited November 24, 2000).]

[This message has been edited by fjrachel (edited November 24, 2000).]<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>