HVAC guys, simple question (1 Viewer)

[TxBuckeye]

Just need a quick and simple question answered. Without a doubt, I am mechanically inept when it comes to heating and cooling. Basically, I have electric heat and A/C. So I have the outdoor unit, which I believe is the condenser unit. Has the big fan blade and all that. In that attic are the blower unit and I assuming the innards of the electric heat system.

My question is this. Does the outdoor unit play at all when the system is providing heat? Or is it strictly used when in A/C mode? The reason I ask... the condenser was dead and popped the circuit breaker on the outdoor unit. Discovered it when we switched to AC a few weeks back. Prior to that, our heat was running almost constantly in AUX HEAT mode when it was cold. It seems since they repaired the outdoor unit that I am seeing AUX HEAT a lot less now that it is cold again. Wondering if it is coincidence, or if it had to switch to AUX HEAT because the air wasn't being circulated properly due to the outdoor unit being messed up or something.

I tried to find a simple unit diagram on Google on how this all works but was unable. So appreciate any farmer-simple knowledge you can impart. Thanks.

 

[satch]

Just need a quick and simple question answered. Without a doubt, I am mechanically inept when it comes to heating and cooling. Basically, I have electric heat and A/C. So I have the outdoor unit, which I believe is the condenser unit. Has the big fan blade and all that. In that attic are the blower unit and I assuming the innards of the electric heat system.

My question is this. Does the outdoor unit play at all when the system is providing heat? Or is it strictly used when in A/C mode? The reason I ask... the condenser was dead and popped the circuit breaker on the outdoor unit. Discovered it when we switched to AC a few weeks back. Prior to that, our heat was running almost constantly in AUX HEAT mode when it was cold. It seems since they repaired the outdoor unit that I am seeing AUX HEAT a lot less now that it is cold again. Wondering if it is coincidence, or if it had to switch to AUX HEAT because the air wasn't being circulated properly due to the outdoor unit being messed up or something.

I tried to find a simple unit diagram on Google on how this all works but was unable. So appreciate any farmer-simple knowledge you can impart. Thanks.

I'd say your outdoor condensers are likely for AC only. I say this because we just completed an addition on our house which uses the units in the attic for heat and the outdoor units for AC. The outdoor AC units aren't even installed yet, but the heating system has been installed and running for a couple months. In my house, the outdoor AC condensers are strictly for AC only. Of course, your system could be different, but sounds very similar.

 

[3C's]

Being in the south there's a strong possibility that you have a heat pump, so yes the outdoor unit is used for heat and if it was "broke" you were using aux heat which is the electric heat strips in the indoor unit and costs a lot more to operate.

 

[TxBuckeye]

Being in the south there's a strong possibility that you have a heat pump, so yes the outdoor unit is used for heat and if it was "broke" you were using aux heat which is the electric heat strips in the indoor unit and costs a lot more to operate.

Actually I believe it is a heat pump. I had complained to the contruction manager that I thought the AUX HEAT was being used way to much, and our bill was higher than I was expecting. Now I have hope it was an anomoly. Also, I thought when I switched it on last night that I heard the outside unit running, which is a large part of what got me to thinking about it. Thanks for the info!

 

[ChiefD]

Being in the south there's a strong possibility that you have a heat pump, so yes the outdoor unit is used for heat and if it was "broke" you were using aux heat which is the electric heat strips in the indoor unit and costs a lot more to operate.

Yep, this.

 

[TxBuckeye]

Being in the south there's a strong possibility that you have a heat pump, so yes the outdoor unit is used for heat and if it was "broke" you were using aux heat which is the electric heat strips in the indoor unit and costs a lot more to operate.

Yep, this.

Comfirmed with my contruction manager that yes, it is a heat pump. Hopefully my unit will stay out of AUX HEAT now, I'll be more confortable (was always chilly, posted about it in an earlier thread), and will have lower electric bills.

 

[ChiefD]

Being in the south there's a strong possibility that you have a heat pump, so yes the outdoor unit is used for heat and if it was "broke" you were using aux heat which is the electric heat strips in the indoor unit and costs a lot more to operate.

Yep, this.

Comfirmed with my contruction manager that yes, it is a heat pump. Hopefully my unit will stay out of AUX HEAT now, I'll be more confortable (was always chilly, posted about it in an earlier thread), and will have lower electric bills.

The truth is, you'll probably still be chilly. A heat pump generally produces heat that is cooler than your auxiliary heat. Your thermostat will still get satisfied, and at a much more efficient rate.

 

[TxBuckeye]

Being in the south there's a strong possibility that you have a heat pump, so yes the outdoor unit is used for heat and if it was "broke" you were using aux heat which is the electric heat strips in the indoor unit and costs a lot more to operate.

Yep, this.

Comfirmed with my contruction manager that yes, it is a heat pump. Hopefully my unit will stay out of AUX HEAT now, I'll be more confortable (was always chilly, posted about it in an earlier thread), and will have lower electric bills.

The truth is, you'll probably still be chilly. A heat pump generally produces heat that is cooler than your auxiliary heat. Your thermostat will still get satisfied, and at a much more efficient rate.

True, I did read that. But I also read that one of the strengths of the heat pump was that it eliminated "cold spots", which we were definitely suffering from with only the AUX HEAT working. Also, someone mentioned that as the air dried, that would also make the air feel chillier. I would think AUX HEAT, being electric heated strips, would definitely be reducing the humidity pretty rapidly wouldn't it? I definitely noted a lesser chill in the downstairs area yesterday than what I have experienced in the past. Given what I have learned here today, I am hoping it is because of the efficienecy of the unit working as it should. Time, and this current cold snap, will tell.

 

[Fat Nick]

We live in NJ and replaced our AC-only unit with a heat-pump this past summer. Basically, if the temp outside is above 36 degrees, the heat pump heats the house. If it's below that, it switches to Oil. We'll see what the cost savings are.

We've been pretty happy with the Heat Pump option. With my basic math, even if it just runs at the beginning and end months of the "heating season," it'll pay for the cost in 2 years at current oil prices.

 

[ChiefD]

Being in the south there's a strong possibility that you have a heat pump, so yes the outdoor unit is used for heat and if it was "broke" you were using aux heat which is the electric heat strips in the indoor unit and costs a lot more to operate.

Yep, this.

Comfirmed with my contruction manager that yes, it is a heat pump. Hopefully my unit will stay out of AUX HEAT now, I'll be more confortable (was always chilly, posted about it in an earlier thread), and will have lower electric bills.

The truth is, you'll probably still be chilly. A heat pump generally produces heat that is cooler than your auxiliary heat. Your thermostat will still get satisfied, and at a much more efficient rate.

True, I did read that. But I also read that one of the strengths of the heat pump was that it eliminated "cold spots", which we were definitely suffering from with only the AUX HEAT working. Also, someone mentioned that as the air dried, that would also make the air feel chillier. I would think AUX HEAT, being electric heated strips, would definitely be reducing the humidity pretty rapidly wouldn't it? I definitely noted a lesser chill in the downstairs area yesterday than what I have experienced in the past. Given what I have learned here today, I am hoping it is because of the efficienecy of the unit working as it should. Time, and this current cold snap, will tell.

It's more of a case of the system running longer that makes it more comfortable. When a hvac system runs more, the air in your home will circulate more frequently. That constant mixing of air is what makes you comfortable.

Hot spots and cold spots form because a traditional heater will give you a blast of heat, and once it shuts off you experience the cooling down effect. Since the air from a heat pump is "colder", your system is running longer to satisfy the thermostat. Thus, it helps to even how your homes' temperature.

 

[TxBuckeye]

It's more of a case of the system running longer that makes it more comfortable. When a hvac system runs more, the air in your home will circulate more frequently. That constant mixing of air is what makes you comfortable.

Hot spots and cold spots form because a traditional heater will give you a blast of heat, and once it shuts off you experience the cooling down effect. Since the air from a heat pump is "colder", your system is running longer to satisfy the thermostat. Thus, it helps to even how your homes' temperature.

I'm just hoping that whatever the reason, I end up more comfortable. Since moving in to the house in the dead of winter (such as it is in Texas), I have been constantly in a sweater and constantly chilled when downstairs. Yesterday, when it dropped to 28, I never had to put a sweatshirt on. I was comfortable in a tee, which tells me that yes, the heat was distributed better. And, just as importantly, the unit did NOT go in to AUX HEAT mode constantly. I won't swear it never clicked in, but I didn't see it. Before, just about any time I looked, it was in that mode. So hopefully things are going to be looking up. We have a cold snap the next few days, so I will get to really check for a difference. Could kick myself for not havng an understanding of heat pumps and figuring it out sooner. When my construction manager assured me it was normal, I took his word for it and it screwed me.

 

[ChiefD]

It's more of a case of the system running longer that makes it more comfortable. When a hvac system runs more, the air in your home will circulate more frequently. That constant mixing of air is what makes you comfortable.

Hot spots and cold spots form because a traditional heater will give you a blast of heat, and once it shuts off you experience the cooling down effect. Since the air from a heat pump is "colder", your system is running longer to satisfy the thermostat. Thus, it helps to even how your homes' temperature.

I'm just hoping that whatever the reason, I end up more comfortable. Since moving in to the house in the dead of winter (such as it is in Texas), I have been constantly in a sweater and constantly chilled when downstairs. Yesterday, when it dropped to 28, I never had to put a sweatshirt on. I was comfortable in a tee, which tells me that yes, the heat was distributed better. And, just as importantly, the unit did NOT go in to AUX HEAT mode constantly. I won't swear it never clicked in, but I didn't see it. Before, just about any time I looked, it was in that mode. So hopefully things are going to be looking up. We have a cold snap the next few days, so I will get to really check for a difference. Could kick myself for not havng an understanding of heat pumps and figuring it out sooner. When my construction manager assured me it was normal, I took his word for it and it screwed me.

You should notice a huge difference in your electric bill. The backup heat strips in your air handler look like big hairdryer coils. So they just suck the electricity big time.