Do Heat Pumps Eat Squirrels?
 

I have a question for the Planet HVAC Elite.

There was a knock at our front door about 20 minutes ago and, upon answering, lo and behold there was one of our neighbors standing on the porch. In a series of frightened, breathless stammerings, he reported that our heat pump unit was making loud noises. Since he had to shout in order to make himself heard over the deafening din coming from the side of the house, I assumed that he was correct. Donning my coat, I ventured outdoors, approached the unit in question, and can now confirm that our heat pump unit is trying to launch itself into outer space.

My question is, what could cause such a thing? Do heat pumps have fan bearings? Belts? Do they warn the homeowner before exploding? Any advice on this matter would be appreciated as we are unsure whether or not to evacuate.

Thanks in advance.

FAX

Disclaimers: Sorry if repost.

Time to do a Google search for a licensed exorcist Mr. Fax.

I have contacted a Priest and we are awaiting authorization from the Vatican in order to perform the rites should that become necessary, Mr. Kerberos. Meanwhile, I'm hopeful that a Planet expert will contribute his opinion to this thread since Mike The HVAC Guy will be here sometime today and the haggling will begin in earnest.

If he tells me that the number 2 lipswitch has gone rogue and damaged the electrosensometer's capacitor coil, happens all the time, and that'll be $700 dollars, I'd like to be able to tell him to check the fan belt.

FAX

Anti freeze?

Probably a bad compressor bearing. Kiss it, and lots of your money, goodbye.

Sounds like a fan bearing to me. I had one go out
 

and they do sound terrible. It may be costly to replace depending on what kind of heat pumb you own. Good luck!

So ... compressor bearing or fan bearing? Thanks, guys.

I know that the type of heat pump makes a difference, but if you were going to estimate a range of costs, what would it be?

Also, when your compressor and/or fan bearings have gone to the great mechanic in the sky, can you still run the heat pump? It warms the house ... just loudlyer than usual.

FAX

Whatever you do don't let him tell you it's a "muffler bearing" !!!1!!11!

:D

RUN AWAY!!

I'm not a fan of heat pumps. To me they run twice as much and you can barely feel any heat blowing out of them.

I would suggest turning on your emergency heat so it runs off of your furnace for now. You may damage something even worse costing even more money.

Mine was over 800 to replace some odd parts and stuff. Hope the squirrel is ok.

Man it could be a few things. Your condensor fan may may be out of balance. Think of a ceiling fan that wobbles but at 1057 rpms. A screw that holds the fan in position may of came out and is letting the fan hit the shrowd. A rubber mount might of came out of your compressor or the bearings in your compressor. But you need to shut it down so that this doesn't tear it up worse.

If you have to replace the fan motor it will probably be around 500. If it is the compressor going out you are looking at 1000.

Thanks guys. Appreciate the advice, information, and assistance.

Yes, Mr. BigRichard, I shut it off and activated the emergency heating system. We didn't hear it at first because the bedrooms are on the other side of the house (so we can't hear it). I hope I shut it off in time to prevent even more problems. We'll see.

Right now, I'm trying to remember if it could be under warranty. The unit is not very old in heat pump years.

FAX

Call my middle son;

Neece Heating and Cooling
816-461-8200

It's his business and he knows his stuff.

I have 5 sons. One for just about any situation.