it sounds like you have a heat pump and the compressor has failed.

Compressor.........That sounds major.........Sigh.......and they just did fall maintenance in NOV and said everything checked ok.....

If the breaker trips immediately, there's a dead short somewhere. The first thing that comes to mind is corroded leads at the compressor. It's quite common on older units where one lead may have broken loose and shorted out on another. A very simple fix. The slight hum you hear is probably from the low voltage circuit which controls the contactor relay. That's not to say the compressor or fan motor aren't bad but, many times, a simpler cause is the problem.

maryland irisman

Thanks for your response to my post! At the breaker box, there are FOUR breakers....three labeled "furnace" and one labeled "AC"......The one labeled "AC" is the one that's tripped and you flip it off/back on and it trips back IMMEDIATELY in a nano second....I have ZERO knowledge of heat pumps or HVAC in general....My unit is almost 5.5 years old. It is a TRANE.....The last two years I've had the yearly maintenance fall/spring....Two summers ago, the capacitor was replaced (it went out) and two months later, the coolant tube was up against something in the outside unit and the vibration caused it to get a leak and that was replaced 500 ish dollars..... I can only ASSUME that the reason my power bill is SKY HIGH is the fact that the heat strips (auxiliary heat) is what I've been unknowingly heating with the last two months..(I'm guessing). My electric bill was 305 for 34 days on the last bill....It's typically 100 to 150 dollars. I have an appt scheduled for Monday....to top it off, we're getting a snowstorm sun night through tues here and hopefully they will arrive with no problems. I will update later

mark

you are original owner?

what mdl outside unit and inside unit?

if compressor failure, that may be under warranty. of course labor would be at your expense unless you had ext warranty. I will cross my fingers for you and hope it's something relatively simple and inexpensive to repair.

post back and let forum know the diagnosis.

sorry for your trouble.

IMO

Yes I'm original owner. Had the house built in 2004 and moved in September 04..So it's right at 5 and 1/2 years old. I have no idea what the model # is..I'm looking at the booklet now and on the front it says Weathertron Heat Pump then it gives models 4twr2 2twr1 2twr2 twn, twp, and twr and states models less than 20 tons for residential use only. IT does say in the manual that if the sealed compressor fails within the sixth to tenth year, they will replace it excluding labor.

You are correct. You have been heating with the aux strips which is expensive to do. There's definitely a dead short somewhere. That's not to say the breaker isn't bad but I don't think it is from what you described. I too hope it's the simpler problem. It sounds like you're covered for free parts replacement, if indeed they're needed. Tigerdunes gives top notch info if you can provide the model no.'s. Check on the outside unit, you should see a nomenclature plate that will have model, serial no.'s, etc. and let him know.

Ok.....

Guy came today. Unfortunately it was like a freaking blizzard the entire time he was here. He said that it IS the compressor. Since the weather was so bad, he can't replace it today; that there needed to be no rain/snow falling during replacement. My system is under warranty through TRANE for ten years on the sealed compressor. He said it's a big job to replace a compressor so labor isn't cheap.

Additional info.....

At least I "think" it's under warranty. My original owners manual from Trane states "limited warranty" TRANE WEATHERTRON HEAT PUMP 4twr2, 2twr1, 2twr2, twn, twp, and twr.....if the sealed motor-compressor fails or if the outdoor coil should become defective either or both events occurring because of a manufacturing defect within the sixth through the tenth year from the date of original purchase, Trane will furnish without charge the required replacement compressor and/or outdoor coil. So labor etc is not covered only the part....

My model # is 2trw1030a1000ab

When I go the pull up a PDF file on Trane's website. IT says my model and gives the same limited warranty info, but only for five years. Interesting.

Just check on the outside unit, you should see a nomenclature plate that will have model, serial no.'s, and let him know.

Here is a link that might be useful: Appliance Repair in Los Angeles

Mark

I did a little research on what I believe to be an XR11 Trane Heat Pump condenser 2 1/2 ton. There should be a Trane badge on frt panel.

My attached link from an old web page states 10 yr warranty on compressor.

Have you been quoted a price for labor/installation including proper recharging? You do want a new drier installed. I would think one tech with helper not to exceed 3-4 hours.

Post back.

IMO

Here is a link that might be useful: Trane XR11 Heat Pump

Well........

Thanks.....Updated info......the company that I'm dealing with (also original installers of the HVAC system when home was built) says that the compressor is indeed still under warranty, but the labor charge would be 950 dollars! OH MY GOD!

mark

not surprised about price but it's my opinion that is very excessive.

do you mind stating area of country you live?

I think it makes a statement how dealers try to take advantage of a bad situation, especially warranty repairs like yours.

if you can, post the number of techs who make the repair along with hours they are at your home.

IMO

Sure I live in Lexington KY. The name of the company is Comfort Management. They are also the original installers of the system when the house was built in 2004. In fact, the guy that was here said he vaguely remembered my house. They seem professional etc.

Question.....Someone on another forum said they had a similar experience 14 years ago with another brand (Lenox) I think.....And they made several calls to the company and ended up getting a new furnace....Since they had the proof of preventative maintenance (which I do) and proof with receipts of the repairs.......The person stated that these systems usually go on due to improper installation. Would you recommend I call Trane and give my experience with their system or would I be beating my head against a brick wall?

mark

The compressors in Trane condensers have a good reputation in the industry. Trane manufactures their compressors; ie they do not use third party compressors. It use to be Trane policy on compressor failure covered by warranty that the failed compressor would be returned directly to the factory, opened up,inspected, and an attempt at determining the cause of the failure. Compressor failure happens even to those systems that have regular PM.

Yes, I think you would be wasting your time complaining to Trane. Your gripe should be the cost of labor/material from your dealer.

BTW, what is warranty on your replacement compressor?

As far as Lennox, they had a real problem with failure of heat exchangers in some of their Pulse furnace models. That's an entirely different issue.

Sorry for your trouble.

IMO

Tiger

Thanks for your response :)......You asked what is warranty on my replacement compressor? What do u mean? It's just the compressor itself, based on the manual. (ten year).....no labor included or EPA removal charge or anything like that.

Someone on another forum said I should have the thing replaced and NOT put that much money into what is apparently a lemon. I have no clue what the cost to replace an existing unit would be...Seems crazy to replace on that is 5.5 years old. Then again, seems crazy to spend....let me do the math quickly.....1st repair 250.....2nd repair (same year) leak in the coolant tube 550....preventative maintenance 2 years @ 199 per year.....compressor replacement labor charge 950......so that added up I have spent a grand total of $2,148 dollars on my HVAC in 5.5 years. It makes me ill looking at the figure. LOL

Well its 9 am and the repair guy is out back replacing the compressor....May I ask and get an honest response? Do I REALLY need to do the twice yearly preventative maintenance? I keep the filters changed religiously.

mark

once a year is more than enough. that's what I do on my Tranes at my home and on my rental property.

I like to schedule in the heat of the summer.

IMO

mark

one other thought. while I see nothing wrong with yearly PMs/checkups,I have never seen any independent objective study that shows an empirical correlation between PMs and reduction of HVAC breakdown/failures.

post back number of people working on your compressor replacement and hours to perform this task.

since it is Friday, I hope this work goes smoothly and uneventful.

IMO
Good Luck!

ONE guy! Ironically, it was the same particular guy that fixed the leak in the coolant tube a couple of summers ago. He arrived at 830 am.....went to lunch @ 1150am til 105pm finished at approx 215pm.... Grand total 994 dollars. Oh and get this.....They would NOT waive the 71 dollar diagnostic charge when they came out Monday. I asked what the warranty was on the work he did today he said 30 days!

Once a year is sufficient, if indeed they do what they should. It doesn't really prevent major problems but can identify potential ones. Oiling the fan motors (helps prevent failure), checking the connections for corrosion, checking the charge, cleaning the coils, removing any debris etc., change filter is about all one can do. I also do wiring insulation integrity checks for the compressor motor and fan motor windings. That check doesn't have to be done, I do it for my own information, there are things I can predict with it.

As for the absence from the site for a period of time...during refrigeration recovery and then vacuum down after compressor installation, this should take quite some time. Many guys go to lunch or other jobs while that is going on and then come back when that process is almost done.

I usually don't dispute charges since everyone has their own expenses to cover. In my opinion, the charge for replacing the compressor under warranty provided by the manufacturer, is a bit excessive. I can say for sure that if I had to supply the compressor at my own cost and install it, I would be making quite a profit at $994.00. But again, I really have no right to dispute someone else's fees. That's where getting quotes is an advantage for the customer. For the sake of future work, you could contact the manufacturer and ask for a list of authorized dealers in your area from which to get quotes and service. It wouldn't hurt to run your concerns by them on the current work. A lot of times, the manufacturer suggests or even requires warranty work charges to be within a certain window or even a fixed fee. In exchange, this allows the repair company to use the Trane brand name in their advertising and list of units they work on. Give it a shot.

Yes.....When he went to lunch, he did tell me that he was "going to grab something to eat while it vacuumed out"...I realize these companies are in the business for a profit. I had no way to gauge if that was excessive. I was surprised they would not waive the diagnostic charge. I'm sure they made quite a profit on this. I wonder how much the actual compressor costs?