Heat pump vs straight cool, learned something new.

[_Sheffjs_]

Early this morning I noticed the condenser fan to the HVAC unit out back, that was running in heat mode stopped, however the compressor was still going. I dart out back and just then it stopped everything and steam came up.  Humm! Or more like poop! Looks like either the capacitor or the fan went out. So I shut the unit off stopped by Trane and picked up both. Lucky I get it at cost.  But on the internet is information about a defrost cycle.  Son of a gun, it says the unit every so often stops, reverses, sending heat on to the coil defrosting it, the condenser fan will not work during this process. So I watched the unit tonight and sure enough the unit stopped reversed without the fan for about 120 seconds stopped and fired up with the fan and in heat mode.  I guess we don’t run heat all that much.    So now I have in stock no waiting, a fan and cap should this ever die.     

[Jess from VA]

In my lifetime, and on numerous subjects, I am constantly reminded of Eightball (Don Southerland) in Kelly's Heroes.

When Eastwood asks him why he is not helping fix his Sherman tank, he says....... Oh man, I just drive them, I don't know how they work.

[Steel cowboy]

Now if it freezes solid doing the heat cycle and won't defrost itself, it's low on freon. During summer, If the fan ever burns out outside you can keep the unit running with a hose sprayer wetting the coil down. The unit has a safety if the fan goes out it will shut it down. Just saying.

[hal47]

Wondering how many people turn their heat pump off at freezing temperature?

[_Sheffjs_]

Growing up in Chicago I only knew of gas furnace heat in our area.