Trane heat pump Compressor failure at 7 3/4 years?

 

Our heap pump has stopped working. The air handler works fine, the
outside unit stopped working as the circuit breaker on the house panel
tripped and will not reset. This was a new installation in 8/1999.
Service tech says it is the compressor that has failed as indicated by
a "Compressor shorted to ground" failure write up, requiring a new
compressor.

He explained that 'some new federal mandates' require that the cure
would be much more expensive that it would have been say, 4-5 years
ago and proceeded to state why the 'new fed rerquirements' would
complicate the repair. It was a 10 Seer Trane XL1000 unit.

I am wondering if anyone has any additional info or knows of some
questions I might ask...such as WHY the unit failed (he couldnt really
say why, stated maybe elec co. brownouts).


Thanks to anyone who might be able to help,

Brian

 



Typical ignorant and perhaps crooked freon mechanic!  Sounds like he's setting
you up
for a scalping.  There are no "new federal mandates".  The only thing different
from
years ago is that the refrigerant has to be recovered and recycled.  BFD, we've
been
doing that for a decade or more.

The only significant recent event is the rise in the price of R22.  The wholesale
price went up a buck fifty a pound last week (almost double). This is the run-up
to
the "phaseout" in a few years. R12 did the same thing.  

Anyway, time to find a new "technician".  Lots of luck.


The general category of "shit happens" most likely.  A line voltage surge, a
lightning surge or simply that its time was up.  I used to have a contract with
an
insurance company to do failure analysis on failed compressors.  Cut the can
open and
examine the internals to see what failed.  I could identify the failure (usually
insulation puncture on the motor winding) but there was no way to determine the
root
cause.  I suspect lightning but have no proof.  I do recommend a whole house
surge
suppressor.  About $60 from Home Depot.

John
---
John De Armond
See my website for my current email address
http://www.neon-john.com
Cleveland, Occupied TN
Some people are only alive because it is illegal to kill.

 

Neon John wrote:

tell a little more on this item, does it matter which type and is it something I
would
install myself after the power company meter but before my mains enter the
breaker box
in garage?

in case it's important to note, I am in the process or replacing my 150amp main
switch
and breaker box/panel in garage to a new 200amp main switch outside with a few
breakers relocated from garage breaker to outside box and replacing inside
breaker box
(square-D) with a new GE breaker box/panel

 

The Home Depot unit is potted in a standard waterproof junction box with 4 wires
coming out.  One for each hot leg, one for the neutral and one for ground.  A
good
ground, preferably several ground rods separated by a few feet.

Yes, you can install it yourself.  The two hot leads go under the screws of the
largest breaker in the box (so that surges won't trip the breaker and render the
gadget useless).  The white wire goes to the neutral strip.  The green wire goes
out
of the box to a good ground.  My breaker panel has enough room for the thing to
sit
in the bottom.

John




I would

breaker box

switch

breaker box

John De Armond
See my website for my current email address
http://www.neon-john.com
Cleveland, Occupied TN
WARNING: Do not use this hair dryer in the shower!

 



There is a new mandate for more efficient units.  I'd find myself
another tech, it seems to me that somebody should be able to replace
the compressor without having to redo everything.