Heat pump roblem

I

imiller

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 12, 2019
Messages
50
Location
Indiana
Fluid Motion Model
R-29 S
Hull Identification Number
FMLT2908J314
Vessel Name
Paradise Falls
2014; R29 Ranger Tug
The forward heat-pump does not operate consistently. The unit was operational last night from about 6pm till 6am.
With the set point at 69, the unit satisfied the setting and shut down. Then restarted on thermostat demand, at 67 as expected during the night.
At about 6am the unit cycled at the expected 67 without heating the supply air and temperature dropped to less than 57 very quickly. Obviously the reversing valve did not reverse.
Turned the unit off at the thermostat for about 10 minutes and restarted. The water pump started with what appeared to be normal flow; the solenoid sounded; the compressor and blower started however no heat was generated.
We are located in Jacksonville, Florida outside air temperature +/- 40.
Attempts during the day did not produce heat. Tapped on the solenoid, no change.
The cabin unit works well in the same ambient conditions.
Any thoughts ?
 
imiller":r9n6mva2 said:
2014; R29 Ranger Tug
The forward heat-pump does not operate consistently. The unit was operational last night from about 6pm till 6am.
With the set point at 69, the unit satisfied the setting and shut down. Then restarted on thermostat demand, at 67 as expected during the night.
At about 6am the unit cycled at the expected 67 without heating the supply air and temperature dropped to less than 57 very quickly. Obviously the reversing valve did not reverse.
Turned the unit off at the thermostat for about 10 minutes and restarted. The water pump started with what appeared to be normal flow; the solenoid sounded; the compressor and blower started however no heat was generated.
We are located in Jacksonville, Florida outside air temperature +/- 40.
Attempts during the day did not produce heat. Tapped on the solenoid, no change.
The cabin unit works well in the same ambient conditions.
Any thoughts ?
Click to expand...
Did you try setting it cool for a few minutes to cycle the reversing valve?


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Thank you for your response.
I did try that to no avail

If I need to replace the valve, how could I remove the unit to do the work ?
Any thoughts on that ?
 
imiller":1qfhyokp said:
Thank you for your response.
I did try that to no avail

If I need to replace the valve, how could I remove the unit to do the work ?
Any thoughts on that ?
Click to expand...
So I will start by saying that I work for a company that manufactures HVAC parts and accessories and I’m mostly familiar with standard units that would be used in a home so I am not an expert by any means.

The first thing I would do is try to assess if there is sufficient refrigerant. Sounds like there is because it suddenly stopped working so unless there was a catastrophic event, there wouldn’t be such a drop off. A way to test that is by turning on the cooling. Is it operating properly in cooling mode. Careful as running it too long might ice up the unit. If that is the case, the. The reversing valve would seem to be the culprit (but remember I’m not an expert so I will ultimately defer to others opinions on this). Have you checked online how to potentially solve this absent removing the unit. Maybe this is a common problem with this unit and some forums might have suggestions. I don’t think these units have a built in port for checking the high/low pressures. Those generally have to be tapped into place. You’d have to recover the refrigerant, etc before replacing the valve ... not a DIY job. I have not tried to remove the unit so I can’t help you there.


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As a side note, I read somewhere that you should cycle the opposite mode (heat or cool) once a month for a short period of time as a preventative maintenance to keep the valve from sticking.
 
imiller":2e70nkwa said:
Thank you for your response.
I did try that to no avail

If I need to replace the valve, how could I remove the unit to do the work ?
Any thoughts on that ?
Click to expand...

Not sure where you ended up but had an issue with my boat's heater this evening and thought I'd pass along what I experience and how I solved it in case it could help you.

I turned on the heat on both units and they ran but didn't produce heat. Air was circulating, the units were making noise but the air was cool. I noticed that the circulating pump was running but no water was coming out the side of the boat. I checked the filter, etc... to no avail. I turned the units off and on several different times without success. I ended up turning off the power to the panel and back on. That solved the water circulation issue. Not sure what happened.

The front unit started producing heat but the rear still would not. I turned on the A/C to cycle the reversing valve but noticed that the lowest temperature I could set on the thermostat for A/C was higher than the current temperature in the boat so I was only getting recirculating air. To trick the system into running the A/C, I opened the panel where the thermometer was located and ran a heater so the A/C thought it was warm in the boat. This cause the A/C to run and blow cold air. After a few minutes, I cycled the unit to heat, and the heat started working.

Franco
 
Could have been an air lock or loss of prime and you finally cleared it. Usually if there is no water pumping the unit will shut down.
 
knotflying":3fb5j4s0 said:
Could have been an air lock or loss of prime and you finally cleared it. Usually if there is no water pumping the unit will shut down.
Click to expand...
That was my original thought but I turned off the unit at least 5 times. Let it sit a minute or two and then back on and it didn’t clear. The heat pump ran for over 15 minutes at least one of the times and didn’t shut down. The pump was definitely running. But when I turned off the unit, ,cycled all the circuit breakers on panel 2, and turned it back on it worked immediately. Could have been happenstance. Odd.

What has been your process for clearing air locks?


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I have rarely had one. When I did, closed sea cock, I took off the strainer used a water hose, forced water in under pressure and then had someone turn on the air conditioner and air lock cleared. Then reassembled and all was good.
 
knotflying":1ykuv75v said:
I have rarely had one. When I did, closed sea cock, I took off the strainer used a water hose, forced water in under pressure and then had someone turn on the air conditioner and air lock cleared. Then reassembled and all was good.
Click to expand...
Thanks. Will give that a try next time.


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