Shut heat pump off, did I make right decision

[adamwhatley]

It is icy mix coming down too day here in northeast LA & is sticking to the top of my heat pump! It is still working fine but unit is shacking due to fan not moving air right. I shut it down & went to aux heat. I did not want my heat pump to be in a bind & hurt compressor & or fan motor. Did I make the right call to shut down? I just hate to run aux. Heat because of the cost to due so!

[captube]

I would recommend shutting it down in icy weather.
Make sure the fan blades are not coated with ice when you turn it back on.

[hvacrmedic]

It is icy mix coming down too day here in northeast LA & is sticking to the top of my heat pump! It is still working fine but unit is shacking due to fan not moving air right. I shut it down & went to aux heat. I did not want my heat pump to be in a bind & hurt compressor & or fan motor. Did I make the right call to shut down? I just hate to run aux. Heat because of the cost to due so!

What is the cost to run strip heat for a day or two vs heat pump? Do you have any idea? Judging from the number of times I've heard the same concern from customers it must cost several hundred dollars to run strip heat overnight.

[adamwhatley]

Well it is not only the cost but the comfort. Heat is more comfortable with heat pump not as hot & in my opion it heats more evenly! Also it is looking like it may be a few days before ice is gone!

[EugeneTheJeep]

Just poor some hot water on the blades to melt off the ice and be on your way.

[BaldLoonie]

I sure wouldn't leave it on. Melting the ice is just a very temporary fix. Much buildup can damage the motor bearings or break a mount. The coil will frost up very fast meaning minimal heat transfer. If a timer set to 90 minutes, may not even defrost properly which isn't good for the coil.

Yea, people do panic if that heat pump isn't on saving them a fortune.

[beenthere]

Best to shut it off. The electric aux heat for a day or 2 won't hurt the heating bill much. And will save a service call to have a tech thaw the outdoor coil if it would have built up too much ice for the defrost cycle to handle.

[EugeneTheJeep]

I thought the OP was waiting for warmer weather to melt the ice?

[adamwhatley]

Well guess what I found out today. I don't have aux. Heat, so this hole time I have only been running with heat pump for the past 3 months. Anyways I called my head service tech & let him no what i found ( I am the salesman for my company). He only pulled in 6 wires with no white wire. Anyways I had to by pass tonight till I can get some more t-stat wire.

Anyways I have the aux heat running but noticed that 1 of my rooms is only blowing 75 degree heat ever other room is 92-100 heat. I k ow what you are thinking duct work but that is not the case, this room has great air flow and is always the coldest in the summer & the warmest in the winter put know no good heat? I have climbed up into the attic & everything is fine with that drop! Any ideas this one has got me wondering?

[garyed]

Well guess what I found out today. I don't have aux. Heat, so this hole time I have only been running with heat pump for the past 3 months. Anyways I called my head service tech & let him no what i found ( I am the salesman for my company). He only pulled in 6 wires with no white wire. Anyways I had to by pass tonight till I can get some more t-stat wire.

Anyways I have the aux heat running but noticed that 1 of my rooms is only blowing 75 degree heat ever other room is 92-100 heat. I k ow what you are thinking duct work but that is not the case, this room has great air flow and is always the coldest in the summer & the warmest in the winter put know no good heat? I have climbed up into the attic & everything is fine with that drop! Any ideas this one has got me wondering?
Is the duct that goes to that coming off from the main duct very close to the air Handler?
By the way 6 wires should be all you need for most heat pumps with aux heat.

[adamwhatley]

Yes it is the closet coming off main trunk. I sorry I meant it has 5 & needs 6! What is your thinking on the duct work?

[beenthere]

Do you have a trunk line, or is it just a plenum?

[adamwhatley]

Plenum only no trunk line

[garyed]

Yes it is the closet coming off main trunk. I sorry I meant it has 5 & needs 6! What is your thinking on the duct work?
When your Heat pump is running correctly the heat coming out of the Air handler is at the same temperature through the entire opening because the coil is where the heat is coming from & it is larger than the opening. The heat strips are smaller than the opening so there is air that will go around the strips that will not be heated as much until it mixes further down the duct system & the the air temp becomes more even. If a duct run is close enough to the unit the heat from the strips can bypass that outlet since it hasn't mixed evenly yet.

[adamwhatley]

You sir gave me a detailed answer on what might be happening & it mAkes since! For that I thank you. I new it was not the duct work so this possible cause makes me feel better, I will be glad when Icy weather is gone & I can have my heat pump back working. Again thanks