Gas and Oil Home Heating Furnaces - HELP... can HEAT and AC be running at the same time???

Hi... i live in an apartment and I have a BRYANT (ELECTRIC)combination HEATER/AC unit but I have noticed a few things as of late.

When the heat is on... the AC unit outside the house is ALSO running. Now... I don't know if its just the FAN but the outside unit is definitly running as well.

Also... although the heater ELEMENTS are getting warm and actually glowing after a while... there is very cool air coming out of the hole where this copper pipe comes out of the unit.

My questions are as follows. Is this NORMAL? Can the HEATER and AIR CONDITIONER actually be on at the same time? Or is the outside unit just for FAN purposes while in the COOL mode?

Our thermostat is a HONEYWELL with a three position HEAT/OFF/COOL switch.

What do you guys thing is happening here?

Thanks in advance

DAVID

PS: I very rarely see the maintenace guy so I figured one of you could assist me in the mean time.

First thought is that you have a heatpump. If that is the case then the outside unit is supposed to run. When the heat is on and the outside fan running, feel the air comming off the outside unit. It should be quite cold. Also feel the larger of the 2 pipes at the outside unit, it would be hot. (in the summer it would be cold) If neither of those apply, there would be a problem. Contact the mgr.

Thanks for getting back to me. I am not home now... so I really can't check on your suggestions, but I very much doubt if it is a HEAT PUMP.

It is a HOT AIR unit... and the heating is accomplished with these what I call "elements". There are like porcelin things on it.

The unit itself gets very warm when in the heating mode.

I don't know ANYTHING about heat pumps... but I know this unit sits in a closet-like room and is not very new.

We have had numerous heating problems in the complex. Sometimes we had no heat, other times we had no AC. There was a period where the elements would be HOT even though the unit was NOT calling for heat.

Assuming that I do NOT have a heat pump, and just a normal electric HOT AIR combo system... IS THERE ANY WAY BOTH THE HEAT and AC CAN RUN AT THE SAME TIME? If this is true...somethings real wrong and my electric bill will skyrocket.

Thanks

DAVID

Turn tstat off.Does unit inside and outside stop?If they do PHnd is trying to figure out if you do indeed have a heat pump system.We need the model #....Or take cover off of tstat.If you see,6,7,or 8 wires going to it you have a heat pump.The next thing to try....shut power off to unit outside.If your transformer is located in the indoor section you can than run heat and a/c will not.This will save you high electric bill until repairs can be made.YES heat and a/c can run at same time----if tstat is defective,if tstat wires are shorted together or if contacts on outside contactor are welded together.Get back to PHnd with model # to verify type of system you have.It will help us help you.PDF

The elements your talking about are probably electric heat strips. Heat pump systems many times have electric strips as a back-up. Thats why I say you may have a heatpump. When you get the chance check it like I suggested. That will determine if you have a problem or not.

For GP sake. A heatpump is an air conditioner that reverses its cycle in the winter time. In summer an a/c system removes heat from the home and rejects it to the outdoors. In winter when the cycle reverses, the a/c removes heat from the outdoors and rejects it to the indoors.

If you have a Bryant electronic t-stat this is a internal problem with the t-stat itself It probably wont do it everytime. I just came across this problem on a new bryant installation. You must replace the thermostat.

OK guys.... first let me tell you that I am Polish and not good at taking apart thermostats etc.... lol :)

My heater is a BRYANT ELECTRIC FURNACE (model # 215 960 D --- series C)

If this information is insufficient that I will try and find a model number on the OUTSIDE.

Thanks in advace

DAVID

PS: The thermostat is a rather basic rectangular one and is NOT digital. It has a HEAT-OFF-COOL three position switch on the right and a FAN on OFF on the left.

David, your trying to make this harder than it has to be. Do not start fooling with the t-stat. Do like I suggested and feel the air and pipes. That will tell you weather or not your air conditioner is running or if it is normal operation of a heatpump.... Next step would be to look here for the model of your outside unit, not the inside unit the outside. http://www.bryant.com/ You'll find it listed under A/C or Heatpumps.

I've had a relay stuck in one before, that made both run.
If you don't have maintencemen for your apartment, maybe just turn off the outside unit? (usually a cut-off switch there, otherwise the breaker)

--(please don't yell at me for posting after others? )

OK... the OUTSIDE unit is as follows.

GOODMAN MANUFACTURING CORP.
Model CK 18 - 1B
Phase 1
Factory Test Pressure low150 high300
Voltage range 197-253

It also has an emblem that says ETC listed CENTRAL COOLING AIR CONDITIONER.

Now... does that mean it is only an AC unit, and not a heat pump?

Thanks in advance

DAVID