Is this normal for a heat pump?

[mbronto]

2022 FC 30ft. I had the HP on at night and set at 65 degrees. It kicked on during the night and kept going and going and finally I got up to see inside temperature was close to 70 degrees and it was still going. I turned down the temp a few degrees and it immediately shut off. So then I set it to "auto" (presumably it then decides if to use the furnace or the heat pump) and went back to bed. I was then woken up by strange deep click sounds every 10 seconds or so and then the heat pump compressor would turn on and then shut off within about 5 seconds. Then the fan would blow for about 10 seconds and shut off and then nothing for 20 minutes. Then again, blower on for a few seconds and then compressor on for a few seconds and off.

Sorry for the long read, but it's hard to explain in few words. Strangely, the temperature stays where it should but the behavior of the compressor and blower is really unexpected. Has anyone experienced anything like this? Since mine is a 2022 and I am new to RV life, I wanted to check with the seasoned folks here.

[Dennis C]

Sorry to hear you’re having trouble. What was the outside temperature? I ask because heat pumps don’t really work when it’s under 45 degrees Fahrenheit. I’m wondering if the clicking was your furnace trying to light. Was your propane tank open, giving the furnace gas to light? If not, then perhaps your system tried to light the furnace, and then switched to heat pump when the furnace wouldn’t light. Then perhaps it was too cold for the heat pump, so it went back to trying the furnace and continued to cycle.

That was a wild guess on my part, but it’s what pops into my head based on your description.

I would verify that your propane tank is open, and then burp the lines to remove any air by lighting a burner on the stovetop. Once you’ve done that, I’d try turning the furnace on and verifying that it lights and it’s working. Once you have that done, I’d try the auto setting again and see what happens.

Good luck and let us know what you find as you troubleshoot it.

[GOUSC]

I don’t know the answer either but the prior post May answer part of it. You can check your owners manual for the heat pump but, I think the “auto” selection for mode alternates between air conditioning or heat pump, whichever is needed. If temp drops below 40(?) then the propane furnace should kick in and that is where you may hear the clicking if your propane tank is turned off.

There is an auto mode for the fan as well that can change your expectations. I think the auto mode for the fan has to be selected for the heat pump to work right. In the air conditioning mode I sometimes have one unit on and the other on low fan if I only have 30 Amps. If I forget to set the fan back to auto my heat pump won’t blow out heat, only fan air.

Check your manual to see if you have your settings set right.

[mbronto]

Great advice and the right first step in troubleshooting. I did have propane on and the line was bled so that's not it. Also, the 'click' sound was definitely coming from the roof mounted heat pump and not from the furnace below. The temperature was above 40 degrees. Probably around 50. I guess the most important piece of info I gather form both of you is that the behavior is likely not normal.