HVAC Maintenance on a Heat Pump Saves the Customer Thousands in Potential Repair Costs in Unicoi, TN

An existing customer contacted us and asked for a HVAC maintenance on 2 of their 20-year-old Rheem heat pumps located in Unicoi, TN. I started by testing in on each heat pump individually to see how they were working in the cooling mode. I hooked up my Bluetooth communicating probes to the heat pump and put a couple of probes on the return and supply as well. These probes communicate back to my iPad outside and give me a full picture on how the heat pump is performing. These probes give me what I need to know about the system including pressures, vapor & liquid saturations, superheat, sub-cooling, outdoor dry bulb, indoor dry bulb, indoor wet bulb, indoor humidity, temperature split between the return and supply, and various other data points that relate to the overall health of the heat pump.

I also logged an inrush amp reading on each compressor as well as the running amps on the compressors and outdoor fan motors. I also like to log an amp reading on the blower motor while it is running as well. I utilize the data tags on the machines to make sure my amp readings are where they are supposed to be at. A heat pump tune-up or maintenance does not guarantee against a breakdown in the future, but it helps to capture potential issues before they become a larger issue and cost you more money.

In this case I was able to catch one of the units near the LRA or locked rotor amps of the compressor at startup. The LRA was 84 amps on these particular units and I was logging an inrush amp on the compressor of 80.8 amps. This is concerning because once the compressor starts drawing at or over the LRA, it can fail to start which means the heat pump would no longer heat or cool. A reading over the LRA can also overheat the compressor or damage it costly you thousands in repair costs. I offered the customer 3 options to fix their issue on their heat pump.

The first option was an ICM USA made soft start device which helps to drastically reduce the inrush amps on a compressor when it starts. It is a far superior device in lowering inrush amps and is the best option at increasing the longevity of a compressor. However, it is the most expensive option. The second option was a Kick Start device which is a form of a hard start with an external potential relay. This device is a good option at aiding the compressor in starting by helping the start winding for a split second get a little more power. It has a good cycle rate for when the unit will be starting and stopping more often. It is a cheaper option than a soft start device (priced in the middle) and still helps to drastically reduce inrush amps on the compressor. The third option was a traditional hard start device by Supco. The relay on this device is combined with the capacitor so it has a slower cycle rate and can fall behind more on days when the unit will be cycling on and off more frequently. A slower cycle rate means the power you need to help the compressor start might not be there during the extremes. This option of course is the cheapest option, but works in a pinch to help reduce the compressor’s inrush amps.

The customer chose the middle of the road option, which was the Kick Start device with an external potential relay. After the installation of the Kick Start device and during my test out procedure, I was able to document a 45.3-amp reduction in inrush amps at startup on the compressor. The compressor was now only drawing 35.5 amps at startup versus the 80.8 amps it was previously drawing! The reduction in start-up amps, correlates to less energy use at every startup for heating and cooling the home and helps to extend the life of the compressor.

While doing a heat pump tune up or maintenance, I don’t take shortcuts and you can expect a thorough job. I fully take apart the outdoor unit and scrub & wash every panel. I wash through the outdoor coil in order to restore maximum airflow on your machine. I remove any debris from inside the unit and the electrical cabinet. I check the dual run capacitor and contactor coil to confirm they fail in range of the factory specifications. I reassemble the machine and wax the panels with a UV resistant spray wax to help protect your investment from degradation over the years. I always like to inspect the indoor unit, blower speed settings, blower run capacitor rating if applicable, return air grille sizing in correlation to your unit’s size, and the electrical circuit sizing in comparison to your data tag to confirm that you have the correct overcurrent protections on your unit. I lubricate the service disconnect pullouts with di-electric grease and also use Nylog thread sealant on the Schrader valve caps to help prevent incidental refrigerant leakage from vibration or a failed Schrader valve core. I also like to pull a vacuum on the drain line to help remove debris, snake the p-trap when I can get to them, flush the drain with a foaming drain cleaner, and run multiple gallons of enzyme treated water through the drain as well to help ensure a properly flowing drain line. I always like to look at the unit’s water protection devices and will make recommendations if needed to help protect your property from water damage if your unit lacks protection.

If you would like a thorough HVAC maintenance, look no further than Magnolia Services based out of Johnson City, TN. Our price on a heat pump tune up or maintenance might be more than the other guy’s advertising on TV or the radio, but we actually do work when we are there. You get what you pay for and when you are paying next to nothing for a maintenance, you can expect that you are getting next to no value on the service. There is a reason it takes us 2.5 – 3.5 hours on a first-time maintenance per unit and 2 – 2.5 hours on follow up maintenances. We are taking an in depth look at your system, thoroughly cleaning it, and doing our best to set you up for success in the future. Stay safe and best wishes.

Location: Unicoi, TN