OT - Heating & Air question

JonInMiddleGA · 11-13-2003, 07:06 AM

I'm about to snap on my dumbass, over-charging, local yokel heating & air contractor. Maybe one of you can save his life.

New H/A unit. Dual stage furnace, electric heat pump until it's really cold, gas furnace kicks in below 40 degrees.

The current problem (aside from the install taking double the quoted time) seems to be with the thermostat.

Set it on 73 (had cold-natured in-laws visiting). Wake up to find temp at 70, unit not running. Problem is, the heat pump doesn't have any sort of automatic "downtime", basically its supposed to run until the thermostat is satisfied & then kick back on when it isn't met. But it's not doing that. It's as though it'll get to 70 and then stop no matter what.

Thermostat has been calibrated & re-calibrated, so ... WTF?

Why does this unit keep stopping without ever reaching the desired temp?

I'm open to expert opinion or, since my "experts" here don't seem to have a f'n clue, wild ass guesses will also be considered.

wbonnell · 11-13-2003, 08:05 AM

I don't have any advice for you, but I have a similar- but opposite- problem: my unit won't shut off because, according to the apparently incorrect thermostat, it hasn't reached the proper temperature.

CraigSca · 11-13-2003, 08:08 AM

Have you tried to speak to the manufacturer of the heat pump directly?

oykib · 11-13-2003, 08:16 AM

Kill the contractor.

JonInMiddleGA · 11-13-2003, 09:50 AM

I'm leaning toward oykib's suggestion more than anything else.

While that remains to be determined, the latest attempt at fixing the problem is to re-calibrate the thermometer for the 3rd time.

Subby · 11-13-2003, 10:00 AM

Any chance the thermostat is just flat-out broken and needs to be replaced?

JonInMiddleGA · 11-13-2003, 10:19 AM

Subby, that was among my first questions this morning ... their reply was that "well, it doesn't seem to be" and since we don't stock them, we really can't swap it out to check !

Village idiots I tell ya, I'm dealing with the f'n village idiots here.

Ben E Lou · 11-13-2003, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by JonInMiddleGA
...I'm leaning toward oykib's suggestion more than anything else...

...Village idiots I tell ya, I'm dealing with the f'n village idiots here...

Note to self: Do NOT hack off Jon today...

JonInMiddleGA · 11-13-2003, 10:47 AM

SkyDog - generally speaking, that's always a good choice

Especially don't do it when amounts of $10k+ are involved.

Two Thirds Rectal Trout · 11-13-2003, 11:37 AM

I know you have had the thermostat calibrated and recalibrated but, is the home temp really at 70? (Use some other temperature gauge in the middle of the room). If you turn up the thermostat from 73 to say, 76, does it kick on?

If you are using the calibration in the thermostat, thermostat could still just need to be replaced. I'd definitely manually check the room temp first. Also, make sure that you aren't heating or cooling off your thermostat with something (fans, heat lamps, etc..).

Of course, completely unsure of what your layout is so, just throwing SWAGs out there.

Glengoyne · 11-13-2003, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by JonInMiddleGA
SkyDog - generally speaking, that's always a good choice

Especially don't do it when amounts of $10k+ are involved.

Your Heating/AC unit ran $10k?

You(or your contractor) can buy a <$25 thermostat at any Home store, that should help you verify if it is broken.

Does it activate the heater at the correct temp?

Does it indicate the current state(on/off) of the heater?

Glengoyne · 11-13-2003, 11:46 AM

Dola,

IMO the cheaper the thermostat the better for testing things.

If you have a fancy thermostat, you may have 'programed' it not to come on during certain times.

Fido · 11-13-2003, 12:26 PM

Some digital thermostats have built in "buffer zones" to keep the heat from constantly cycling on an off. I think ours at home is 3 degrees, so it runs until it reaches the temp then shuts off andwaits until the temp drops to less than three degrees below what you have set before turning back on again.

Try turning it up a few degrees and seeing what that does - ie does it turn on and stay on until th eset temp. is reached?

11-13-2003, 09:50 AM	#5
JonInMiddleGA Hall Of Famer Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Behind Enemy Lines in Athens, GA	I'm leaning toward oykib's suggestion more than anything else. While that remains to be determined, the latest attempt at fixing the problem is to re-calibrate the thermometer for the 3rd time. __________________ "I lit another cigarette. Unless I specifically inform you to the contrary, I am always lighting another cigarette." - from a novel by Martin Amis

11-13-2003, 10:00 AM	#6
Subby lolzcat Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: sans pants	Any chance the thermostat is just flat-out broken and needs to be replaced? __________________ Superman was flying around and saw Wonder Woman getting a tan in the nude on her balcony. Superman said I going to hit that real fast. So he flys down toward Wonder Woman to hit it and their is a loud scream. The Invincible Man scream what just hit me in the ass!!!!! I do shit, I take pictures, I write about it: chrisshue.com

11-13-2003, 10:19 AM	#7
JonInMiddleGA Hall Of Famer Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Behind Enemy Lines in Athens, GA	Subby, that was among my first questions this morning ... their reply was that "well, it doesn't seem to be" and since we don't stock them, we really can't swap it out to check ! Village idiots I tell ya, I'm dealing with the f'n village idiots here. __________________ "I lit another cigarette. Unless I specifically inform you to the contrary, I am always lighting another cigarette." - from a novel by Martin Amis

11-13-2003, 10:47 AM	#9
JonInMiddleGA Hall Of Famer Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Behind Enemy Lines in Athens, GA	SkyDog - generally speaking, that's always a good choice Especially don't do it when amounts of $10k+ are involved. __________________ "I lit another cigarette. Unless I specifically inform you to the contrary, I am always lighting another cigarette." - from a novel by Martin Amis

11-13-2003, 11:37 AM	#10
Two Thirds Rectal Trout n00b Join Date: Oct 2003	I know you have had the thermostat calibrated and recalibrated but, is the home temp really at 70? (Use some other temperature gauge in the middle of the room). If you turn up the thermostat from 73 to say, 76, does it kick on? If you are using the calibration in the thermostat, thermostat could still just need to be replaced. I'd definitely manually check the room temp first. Also, make sure that you aren't heating or cooling off your thermostat with something (fans, heat lamps, etc..). Of course, completely unsure of what your layout is so, just throwing SWAGs out there. Last edited by Two Thirds Rectal Trout : 11-13-2003 at 11:47 AM.

11-13-2003, 08:05 AM	#2
wbonnell College Prospect Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Round Rock TX	I don't have any advice for you, but I have a similar- but opposite- problem: my unit won't shut off because, according to the apparently incorrect thermostat, it hasn't reached the proper temperature.

11-13-2003, 08:08 AM	#3
CraigSca Pro Starter Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Not Delaware - hurray!	Have you tried to speak to the manufacturer of the heat pump directly?

11-13-2003, 08:16 AM	#4
oykib College Starter Join Date: Oct 2000	Kill the contractor.

11-13-2003, 11:46 AM	#12
Glengoyne Grizzled Veteran Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Fresno, CA	Dola, IMO the cheaper the thermostat the better for testing things. If you have a fancy thermostat, you may have 'programed' it not to come on during certain times.

11-13-2003, 12:26 PM	#13
Fido High School Varsity Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: New Hampshire, USA	Some digital thermostats have built in "buffer zones" to keep the heat from constantly cycling on an off. I think ours at home is 3 degrees, so it runs until it reaches the temp then shuts off andwaits until the temp drops to less than three degrees below what you have set before turning back on again. Try turning it up a few degrees and seeing what that does - ie does it turn on and stay on until th eset temp. is reached? __________________ Author of FOF Reporter and TCY Helper.

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