Heat Pump - Fix or Replace

[dxhound]

Hello,

I have a 12 year old Trane XL-1400 heat pump. The outside unit is a TWY036A100A3. Up until recently it has worked well. Maintained twice a year. Maintenance history: changed a relay in the air handler a few years ago (aux heat), new TXV last year. More recently failed a fan thermostatic relay in the outside unit that controls the 2-speed fan. For a few hours, the compressor would come on along with the fan but the fan would turn off in a minute or so. Compressor would struggle and then turn off. I assume it may have repeated the cycle once the thermal interlock reset. No more than 3 hours of this before I noticed the failure. See my other thread for details.

About two weeks later, the crankcase heater failed (shorted to ground). Popped the 40 amp fuse in the outdoor box. Serviceman disconnected the crank heater from the 240 line for now.

My serviceman is still waiting on parts from the factory to fix the fan control. He wire around the faulty relay to keep my a/c running on one fan speed.

Looking for advice from those of you who work on these systems every day. Is the Trane nearing end of life? Is the couple hours strain on the compressor during the fan failure something to worry about? Should I fix the known problems including the crankcase heater and press on, or start to think about a full system replacement this fall?

OBTW, for what its worth... the outside unit is under a tall (10+ ft ) deck open on all three sides, so it's been protected from direct sun, rain and snow but has good airflow around it.

Thanks !

[BaldLoonie]

That may still be the American compressor at that age. Probably has a few years left in it. Crankcase heater failures are very common and not a big deal. I'd just leave the fan wired on 1 speed anyway.

As for running without the fan, I've fixed the Tranes on both sides of me due to fan failures and they ran longer than that before I got them shut down. Actually the guy beside me called and pointed out that his neighbor's machine was making a funny noise. We went to his house and asked if he noticed it getting warm. He said he was just getting suspicious. This was several years ago, both are 20+ years old going strong.

[martyinlincoln]

Fix her up. Little things like those are like buying a new battery or tires for the car. When the engine,ie compressor, dies then you think replacement vs repair.

[bmathews]

It's a crapshoot dude. Who knows what will happen. Your condenser might run another day, week, month, year or decade. Who can predict how long a 12 year old system will last is lying to you. Hell, as of late. Who can predict a 1 year old system will last you or cause you repairs in the near future. Everything is made in a 3rd world country now. Who can trust them, they put lead in our kids toys.

[Stamas]

Minor problem. But don't ignore having that heater replaced. That can kill that compressor.

[Kevin O'Neill]

Having the outdoor unit under a deck will recirculate the discharge air. that won't kill the compressor but will reduce the efficiency and capacity.

I have measured 20 degrees above outdoor ambient inside enclosures even if it was partly open. Covered on the top is the worst. Being it is 10 feet up helps, but I would recommend that you measure the air near the outdoor unit then out in the open (while it is hot outside).

If there is little difference, then don't worry about it. If there is a large difference, I would consider moving the outdoor unit out in the open. JMHO.

[turner_mech]

I would defiantly repair the crank case heater. I wouldn’t be to concerned with the damage that occurred with the fan issue. We see units overheating and left on for days and working for years. You just never know.
for your peace of mind I once toured the Trane factor where they had a compressor running for something like twenty years covered in 2 feet of ice obviously slugging liquid into the compressor and it was continuing to run 24/7. not exactly overheating but a testament to there compressors.

[drewski11]

. . . I once toured the Trane factor where they had a compressor running for something like twenty years covered in 2 feet of ice obviously slugging liquid into the compressor and it was continuing to run 24/7. not exactly overheating but a testament to there compressors.

you know they change that compressor every couple of months, right?































j/k, i have no idea!

[Kevin O'Neill]

you know they change that compressor every couple of months, right?






























j/k, i have no idea!

It ran for years like that. It was nick named "Snowball" They finally retired it. Climatuff compressor.

[chuckcrj]

It ran for years like that. It was nick named "Snowball" They finally retired it. Climatuff compressor.

Wasn't it one they got back under warranty as failed?

[Joker]

Wasn't it one they got back under warranty as failed?

Yes.

[Joker]

Wasn't it one they got back under warranty as failed?

[dxhound]

Having the outdoor unit under a deck will recirculate the discharge air. that won't kill the compressor but will reduce the efficiency and capacity.

I have measured 20 degrees above outdoor ambient inside enclosures even if it was partly open. Covered on the top is the worst. Being it is 10 feet up helps, but I would recommend that you measure the air near the outdoor unit then out in the open (while it is hot outside).

If there is little difference, then don't worry about it. If there is a large difference, I would consider moving the outdoor unit out in the open. JMHO.

Kevin,

Great suggestion. I'll make some measurements. Where would you suggest measuring the air temperature? Maybe off the ground half the height of the unit and say two feet away?