HVAC Woes - Need Opinion

[Lotus123]

My heat pump system has never worked the way I expect it should (I have lived in a home with a heat pump before and never had these types of difficulties).

1) During last winter my heat pump could not heat the house when the temperature dropped below our around 50. It would simply blow about 80 degree air from the vents…and pretty much run non-stop. At the time I paid for a tech to diagnose the problem. He determined I had a 5-Ton furnace and only 10KW heat packs…he said I needed to upgrade to 20KW…$. I decided I might do that…but after researching online I found out that the heat pump should be working better than that at 50 degrees…and that adding heat to the furnace was only going to cover up the problem.
2) Now were in the summer. My heat pump cannot seem to cool the house below 79 degrees when it is around 95 or higher outside. It simply runs non-stop. I called a different tech and this time they said the problem is I have a 4-Ton heat pump and a 5-ton furnace. They said this is causing pressure differential problems (he rattled off numbers of 90/240…I have no clue what they mean). They said the solution is to install a TXV that will allow the heat pump to more efficiently adjust and provide the proper temperature of air (I never get above…or really anywhere near…the 17 degree required minimum difference between inflow and outflow). For example, right now, the air going into my intake is 80 degrees….the air coming out of the vents is 70 degrees. I would think I should get a lot colder…even though it is 98 degrees outside right now – maybe I’m wrong. The tech also stated this repair would fix my heating problem in the winter as well….the cost - $. I did some research on this (used allexperts.com for a 2nd opinion) and the 2nd opinion said this was a stupid idea that would never fix the problem.

To be truthful, none of these techs have ever made me feel confident about what they are saying. They barely spend more than 5 minutes looking over the system and then they both immediately came up with a different solution that would be $ (the same price for two different solutions no less).

Is there any help anywhere to be found? I have never objected to paying an expert for their expertise…but I’d kind of like my expert to be supported by other experts (and thus far in the AC world that has not been the case….I’ve actually had 4 different opinions on this issue now).

Any ideas?

Please help – from someone who is nearly beyond the breaking point of frustration.

[beenthere]

No prices in post, please read site rules, thank you.

Doubt a new TXV will help with heating.

You might want to post your location. A member of this board may service your area.

[coors66]

My heat pump system has never worked the way I expect it should (I have lived in a home with a heat pump before and never had these types of difficulties).

1) During last winter my heat pump could not heat the house when the temperature dropped below our around 50. It would simply blow about 80 degree air from the vents…and pretty much run non-stop. At the time I paid for a tech to diagnose the problem. He determined I had a 5-Ton furnace and only 10KW heat packs…he said I needed to upgrade to 20KW…$. I decided I might do that…but after researching online I found out that the heat pump should be working better than that at 50 degrees…and that adding heat to the furnace was only going to cover up the problem.
2) Now were in the summer. My heat pump cannot seem to cool the house below 79 degrees when it is around 95 or higher outside. It simply runs non-stop. I called a different tech and this time they said the problem is I have a 4-Ton heat pump and a 5-ton furnace. They said this is causing pressure differential problems (he rattled off numbers of 90/240…I have no clue what they mean). They said the solution is to install a TXV that will allow the heat pump to more efficiently adjust and provide the proper temperature of air (I never get above…or really anywhere near…the 17 degree required minimum difference between inflow and outflow). For example, right now, the air going into my intake is 80 degrees….the air coming out of the vents is 70 degrees. I would think I should get a lot colder…even though it is 98 degrees outside right now – maybe I’m wrong. The tech also stated this repair would fix my heating problem in the winter as well….the cost - $. I did some research on this (used allexperts.com for a 2nd opinion) and the 2nd opinion said this was a stupid idea that would never fix the problem.

To be truthful, none of these techs have ever made me feel confident about what they are saying. They barely spend more than 5 minutes looking over the system and then they both immediately came up with a different solution that would be $ (the same price for two different solutions no less).

Is there any help anywhere to be found? I have never objected to paying an expert for their expertise…but I’d kind of like my expert to be supported by other experts (and thus far in the AC world that has not been the case….I’ve actually had 4 different opinions on this issue now).

Any ideas?

Please help – from someone who is nearly beyond the breaking point of frustration.


you seem to question/doubt everything someone tells you. before the tech leaves your home inquire as to how he/she came up with that diagnosis. Drill them with questions to determine whether or not they seem confident with the solution. if they do then have them perform the work. If it does not solve the problem. do not pay them. remember, they were confident that was your problem.

seems as thou you have your doubts about the techs who practice this profession.
but I’d kind of like my expert to be supported by other experts (and thus far in the AC world that has not been the case….I’ve actually had 4 different opinions on this issue now). What qualifies an expert. Some mysterious text on the internet that you sort of agree with?



I did some research on this (used allexperts.com for a 2nd opinion) and the 2nd opinion said this was a stupid idea that would never fix the problem.I think the tech was on to something when he mentioned the TXV.

P.S. Don't believe everything you read.

[Lotus123]

No prices in post, please read site rules, thank you.

Doubt a new TXV will help with heating.

You might want to post your location. A member of this board may service your area.

Thanks for the advice! Sorry about the prices...I read the rules for this particular subgroup and didn't see that mentioned...I bet it is in the overall rules for the entire forum (I'll check that out).

The other sources I've used are from other "experts" who list their services on websites such as this...I'm basically trying to compile all the info I can and subseuqently make an informed decision.

Sounds like, from this forum, there are some perspectives that agree with the TXV (at least on the cooling side).

FYI - In Fort Worth, TX

[bmathews]

Opinions are like a@@holes, everybody has one. You'll get a lot on here, but nobody is there, so take them for what they are worth, including mine. I doubt a TXV is going to fix your problem. It could be a variety of issues. Maybe the system is undersized, maybe you have messed up ductwork or insulation and/or infiltration issues. Possibly an undercharged unit. I would look at the entire envelope of your house and how things are working together or not together. I wouldn't focus entirely on the hvac system. Though it could be the problem.

[Shophound]

Five minutes watching a heat pump system (if this is literally the time that was spent) will tell a person little more than the fan spins, the compressor buzzes, the indoor blower blows, the vents spew air.

Without a thorough analysis of the system's actual behavior, any attempt at a remedy will be wild stabs at best. You need someone to come to your home and thoroughly measure and record the system's performance, and look for trouble spots based on those extensive observations. You don't need some greenhorn making haphazard guesses because his knowledge base isn't complete enough to understand what really is going on.

Insist that your installing contractor send out their best technician, or the owner him/herself. I am in Fort Worth and I can keep my house at a comfortably dry 75 degrees when it is 103 degrees outside. There is no reason why you can't also do this. It just requires due diligence on behalf of the installing contractor to get you there.