Hot air conditioner

[Pahaska]

After running in heat pump mode for 3 nights in Oklahoma City, we arrived back in Texas on a 95-degree afternoon (October 20, no less). When I turned on the AC, it blew cold for a few seconds and then went into heat pump mode. The output air was so hot that I couldn't hold a hand in front of the louvers.

I recycled the wall thermostat, turned it off and on, and generally tried everything I could think of, but each time the AC would start up, it was the same sequence ... cold for a few seconds, then hot.

We spent a sweaty evening and a tolerable night with the Fantastic fans running (only got down to 77 near morning).

Has anyone else run into this problem? I don't know enough about heat pump operation to know what might be happening.

[overlander63]

John, another forum member, I belive it was Porky Pig, had a PC board problem with his unit. IIRC, his wouldn't operate in heat pump mode. It was replaced, and he has not reported any further problems.

Terry

[Pahaska]

Originally Posted by argosy20

John, another forum member, I belive it was Porky Pig, had a PC board problem with his unit. IIRC, his wouldn't operate in heat pump mode. It was replaced, and he has not reported any further problems.

Terry

For anyone who encounters this problem, the probable cause (and what happened to mine) is a jammed reversal valve. The valve swaps the functions of the inside and outside of the AC to make it a heat pump.

The tech pulled off the wire from the reversal valve and it still blew hot. That showed that it was not the circuit board. Unfortunately, the only economical solution is to replace the entire unit since the valve would have to be unsoldered, a new valve soldered in, and the unit recharged.

The new unit should arrive tomorrow and I should have the trailer back Wednesday. My wife is headed to Greece Wednesday for 10 days and I'm headed out to some state parks.