Hi guys,

I have a Carrier Heat Pump that's only 4-5 years old or so and all of a sudden yesterday it can't pump any cool air....only really slightly cooler than fan air. So the house is like 81-82 degrees and won't go down.

What the hell is that about...or rather, what is the likely issue here? What are we talking about for repairs, $$$, any suggestions for reputable people to look at it?

5/4/2010 9:59:31 AM

go check to see if the unit is frozen. if it is, you'll have to run the heat to defrost then it should work again.

...that applies for heat pumps right? or is that gas packs? or both/neither? i have no clue

check the refrigerant level also

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check these things before calling the repairman. this is free and you don't have to wait on the man to come and tell you to do it (if that is indeed the problem).

[Edited on May 4, 2010 at 10:03 AM. Reason : ]

5/4/2010 10:00:54 AM

You probably have a 10 year parts warranty on most of your parts since its a carrier. I think some stop at 4 years. You had best call in a repair man to make sure you dont fall outside the warranty period.

Do you have a split unit or a package?

If the unit is frozen over, and since its probably under warranty, you MUST call a repairman to get this fixed. The fix mentioned above is just a temporary work around. If your unit is frozen, it is likely a leak, and those almost always require new expensive parts. The only other way a unit can freeze is if you cut the unit on when it has been off for a long time on a really hot day, and then there can be some freezing.

[Edited on May 4, 2010 at 10:03 AM. Reason : .]

5/4/2010 10:01:52 AM

.

[Edited on May 4, 2010 at 10:02 AM. Reason : .]

5/4/2010 10:01:52 AM

5/4/2010 10:08:49 AM

The air handler could be frozen up as well... check the air filter (and behind it). It could be as simple as an excessively dirty air filter causing the air handler to freeze. It could also be low/no refrigerant due to a leak in the system as mentioned by others or the compressor could be malfunctioning.

5/4/2010 10:25:16 AM

So a repairguy would have to tell me if it's still under warranty? there's no way to find this out myself? And the documentation for it is obviously long gone from previous owneres.

Could it be a shot compressor? That's expensive I hear.

Any thoughts on good repairmen in Raleigh for something like this?

5/4/2010 10:25:58 AM

Hokey, I know, but it's what he's got:

[PM for link]

I use him b/c he's my uncle; he's bonded/insured/whatever the industry standard is, and did, and then oversaw, maintenance for drucker and falk for years - I know he was doing maintenance for them as long ago as 1989, and didn't stop working for them until recently.

[Edited on May 4, 2010 at 10:34 AM. Reason : for future reference/readers, PM me for a referral.]

[Edited on May 4, 2010 at 10:36 AM. Reason : assdal]

5/4/2010 10:33:01 AM

Kainen, I think you should look up certified Carrier servicers in your area. You should be able to give them your serial number and model from the unit to verify it is under warranty. The labor on a compressor install would probably be around $600 if that is what it is (the part is another $600).

5/4/2010 10:45:26 AM

Quote :

"Could it be a shot compressor? That's expensive I hear"

I had a similar problem last year...something to do with a component not switching the compressor on correctly. The fan worked, but no cold air...It was a fairly easy fix.

5/4/2010 11:17:26 AM

Maybe a freon leak?

5/4/2010 12:21:09 PM

Check to see that you've got the a/c on auto and not just the fan. Next see if the fan on the condenser (outside) unit is running when the a/c is on. I've had condenser units throw their little breakers and get nothing but warm air. If that's the problem it might be a bad motor on the compressor or a bad relay.

5/4/2010 3:57:14 PM

So the heat pump is not running outside, but the vents inside are running (pumping warm air).

And I flubbed, it's a Trane X14i. I tried resetting thermostat, the heat pump breaker but no dice.

5/5/2010 9:26:48 AM

Mine is doing something similar and my brother works in heating/air. He said at first it was an easy fix (capaciter) but that the blower motor would die soon. Well the damn thing died 2 days after he replaced the capaciter. It runs but the blade is not spinning outside..so looks like a new motor..grrr. At least I get it at his cost and no labor.

5/5/2010 9:31:07 AM

My unit just did the same thing and I replaced the capacitor and have been running good since. My capacitor was about $30 and I figured it was worth the money to try that out before calling a repair guy.

5/5/2010 11:20:33 AM

That trane definitely has a 10 year warranty on most parts. Just call someone out.

[Edited on May 5, 2010 at 12:52 PM. Reason : .]

5/5/2010 12:51:52 PM