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Old 12-14-2010, 06:38 AM   #1
bncinwv
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Why does it fail on the coldest day of the year???

Murphy's Law or what??? Last year in February, the upstairs heat pump failed at the stick house. This year the main heat pump decides that it is simply too cold for it to work (sub 0 wind chills yesterday and today). Thank goodness for backup systems. Kerosene heater was put to use along with the electric fire place and two space heaters to maintain the main floor at the house at a balmy 64 degrees until the serviceman can make it to the house tomorrow morning. Kerosene ran out last night, so first thing this morning a trip to Home Depot for more K-1 and a trip by the mini-storage to get the oil-filled radiator heater out of the rig so we can put it to use as well. I was never so grateful for a modern convenience as I was for the use of the electric blanket last night and will definitely be thankful for it again tonight. The good part of the predicament is that I will get to celebrate my 29th birthday (again ) huddled around a crackling, warm kerosene heater!!! Happy winter everyone!!!!
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Old 12-14-2010, 06:45 AM   #2
Mrs. CountryGuy
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Happy Birthday

And, it happens, because it is cold. SIGHHH
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Old 12-14-2010, 07:00 AM   #3
Art-n-Marge
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Since an item only fails when you need it and it was designed to fail only when it's being used, you can avoid a failure by not using the item for which it was intended. How's that for sanity? Other thoughts to ponder.

Isn't a warranty just a payment for something that is supposed to work?

Isn't insurance a payment for when things you don't want to go wrong, do go wrong? And you want something to go wrong so you aren't throwing your money away. You are paying for failure.

Isn't inspecting for quality at the end of a product's manufacture kinda too late?

How many of you want to see a doctor that did NOT get straight A's?

How many things do you allow to be wrong with your brand new car?

How come we don't feel this way about our RVs?

Do you agree that keeping things Calibrated just mean that when you are out of specification then everything you did before that is worthless?

How many babies should a nurse be allowed to drop while doing her job working in the nursery ward?

How many of you think Murphy was an optimist? (note, my hand is raised)

Doesn't it seem like the criticality of a failure is proportionate to the need of the product NOT to fail?

Stay warm everyone. The Holidays are almost upon us!
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Old 12-14-2010, 07:08 AM   #4
CamillaMichael
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Bingo, we all get a laugh out of the cold weather jokes, but the temperatures you described are killers...thankfully you had backup support to see you through...hope you are able to get everything back in order soon. Art, I have always thought Murphy was the only one around speaking the truth! Michael
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Old 12-14-2010, 08:33 AM   #5
Bill-N-Donna
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Since your celebrating your “29th birthday ( again )” then at least you can deal with it better than the rest of us older folks could!
Happy Birthday!
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Old 12-14-2010, 08:37 AM   #6
grampachet
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Our heat pump is designed to switchover to the gas furnace when it gets to about 34-30 degrees outside. The design is to use whichever is most efficient and the heat pump looses efficiency at near freezzzzzzzzing. However our two neighbors HPs both continue to work even after ours switches over. I think theirs are bigger and perhaps more efficient.
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Old 12-14-2010, 10:13 AM   #7
Waynem
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Bingo,
Now I've heard it all. That's a heck of a way to get to snuggle.
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Old 12-14-2010, 01:14 PM   #8
Ozz
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yep, the backup heat should kick on, electric or gas: propane or natural gas. Not too many customers I have talked to like heat pumps, pull the thermostat and jumper w-1, w-2 and R, run fan on constant.
The outside air thermostat may be bad. Lots of things can be bad actually. Does the fan run?
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Old 12-14-2010, 03:18 PM   #9
bncinwv
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Fan runs, and occassionally the unit puts out heat today. When it starts to blow cold air, we turn it off and try it again after a while, and it will blow heat again for a while. Definitely sounds like some kind of thermostat or limit switch problem. Service guy will be here in the morning so hopefully it won't be a bank buster type repair. I do remember when I put in the programmable thermostats that there is a jumper required to kick in the emergency heat, but we are comfortable and the outside temp is about 20 degrees warmer tonight. At least we are used to the cold, the poor snowbirds in Florida and other southern areas are in uncharted territory. Feel sorry for them!!
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Old 12-15-2010, 05:39 AM   #10
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Bingo, after reading this post, I think I'll go down cellar and put in a couple more chunks of wood, you made me shiver just thinking about it.
BTW Happy B'Day
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Old 12-15-2010, 05:43 AM   #11
bncinwv
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Thanks all, repairman showed up and the episode is close to being resolved. The three relays for the electric backup heat that supplements the heat pump in cold weather went kaput. $65 Each and a $79 service call and we will be back to normal tomorrow morning. Birthday was enjoyable enough that I will be eagerly awaiting my next 29th birthday celebration next year!!!!
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Old 12-15-2010, 10:03 AM   #12
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Ouch! reasonable service call, (I am $100.00) but the 24 volt coil D.C. relays are around $10.00 each, (if that is what you have) but averaging it out, you are Ok. We all charge a different rate and a different mark-up.
Happy Birthday!
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Old 12-15-2010, 10:45 AM   #13
bncinwv
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Thanks Ozz, The only specifics I know of are that the relays are/were 22 amp or so and they are being replaced with 28 amp relays. It all may be a smokescreen to cover additional costs )labor, shipping, etc.), but I am definitely not going to complain for a less than $300 repair. Besides, someone has to buy the repairman's wife Christmas present!!!
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Old 12-15-2010, 11:10 AM   #14
Ozz
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Yes, the amp rating sounds right, it's the coil voltage that probably is 22 volts, (I said 24, but it was 22 on the recent repair I made) D.C.
I agree, it is reasonable as things go in today's world.

This is the one I fixed:
http://picasaweb.google.com/Jimsue13...eat=directlink
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