Air Source Heat Pump, Fault Finding.

[pewter]

One of my good customers has an air source heat pump for his heating and hot water. Last week it failed.

He calls for heat, it starts up for a min and then stops and gives an errror message at the control panel inside. (he has told me)

 He has tried to ask a few plumbers to look at it but they are all too scared.

I am going there tomorrow to get the immersion heater working/replace it, so he has hot water.

He has asked if i would have a look at it, even though its not my thing. As i have fixed everything else he has asked me to look at, he is keen for me to have a look while i am there.

I am thinking i could check the pump, then after that i am not too sure. I have a friend who does air conditioning who i can ask advice, or ask him to look at it if it would do any good.

Any pointers on what i could have a look at?

Or even better, who does know what they are doing with these things in the Southend-On-Sea area?

 

[ProDave]

See what the fault code is and phone the manufacturer.  I had superb help form dimples fault finding a ground source heat pump when all I had to go on was a fault code.

 

[Marvo]

You can check the fans are running and the coil isn't blocked up and needs cleaning. It would help if you can reference the error code because it could be a sensor fault or something similar. Could also be a gas leak but unless you have refrigeration gauges you're limited to what you can do. I'd guess in the UK that without Fgas certification you'd be on thin ice.

I'll get my coat. :coat

 

[steptoe]

Is it a proper ASHP or a re-configured AC unit,?

 

[pewter]

As always you guys are fantastic help.

I will get all the details when i attend tomorrow.

-I am going to observe what happens.

-Check the fault code with any manual.

-Speak to the manufacturer.

How would i check the PTC?

Will there be a gauge for the gas?

my friend who has an air con company should be able to do the gas, if it is that.

thanks again everyone, i feel a little more confident about it now.

 

[pewter]

It is a Trianco ActivAir S1200

http://www.trianco.co.uk/narchive/ActivAir/224512%20-%20ActivAir%20S1200.pdf

 

[pewter]

It's error code three, which according to the manual means:

"Compressor outlet temperature too high."

 

[Marvo]

Check for water flow through the heating exchanger. If the heat pump is running there should also be a water pump that runs at the same time. If the water circulation through the heat exchanger is fine then you'll need to test the discharge temp sensor itself and maybe the error alarm threshold settings if there's a possibility that someone may have been fiddling.

 

[ProDave]

That's pretty much the same error I had and it was an air lock in the customers plumbing, so water was not flowing through the unit to take the heart away.

 

[pewter]

Thanks guys. Great advice.

I am hoping to get to have a look at it by lunch time.

 

[Sharpend]

Are you still there?

 

[pewter]

Are you still there?

No its cold, there is no heating.  :slap

I didnt get there until 13:30-14:00 ish.

The owner had bled the tank and rads, and topped up pressure a bit too high, i let a bit out, started it up and it ran.  It ran fine for 40 mins. then it stopped with error code 3. I tried to start it up again and it did, and ran for another 40 mins.

During that time i had a look at the element which had a thermostat he had recently paid a plumber to replace. He had called him back to change the element but the plumber hid from him.  I think that was because it had an element specific to that make of tank. I decided this was a job for my plumber mate who was able to pop in and have a look.

It fired back up a 3rd time straight away. I phoned up the manufacturer who aparently close at 14:30 on a friday according to the answer phone message.

I had a breif battle with the air source heat pump getting to it behind a cage and trying to get the top off. I could see what i thought was the PTC relay. By this time the owner had returned, some neighbours in the block told him about there trouble with the same unit and how they had spent more on repairs then it cost to replace it with an potterton electric boiler.

The outcome was the owner saying he just wants rid of it. My plumber buddy is going to replace the tank with a more conventional one to heat the water, and he will install a heater for the central heating. I will have to get a supply there for it and wire up the thermostat.   

For me a good result as i was out of my comfort zone inside the unit, i only looked as he is a good customer and requested i do so. I was gone by 16:30 in time to run my little girl to Majourettes for 5.

 

[ProDave]

So what's going to happen to the heat pump when you remove it?

Can I have it?

 

[pewter]

So what's going to happen to the heat pump when you remove it?

Can I have it?

That is possible. Although how would you get it from ESSEX to the north. The in laws are due down from Falkirk but I think there is 0 chance they would put it in the back of there car.

 

[Lurch]

While you're at it I could do with some large items picking up from Kent and dropping off here. Cheers.

 

[ProDave]

If you do end up with it sitting in your garage I'll see qhat wuotes I can get from shiply to bring it up here.  I'm not due a visit down south for some time.

 

[pewter]

Let me know if you do want it and I can set it aside for you. I don't have a garage so it would have to sit outside.

I'm not sure when the rip out date is, next few weeks I expect. I will confirm with you when I have a date.

That uship website might be suitable for it

 

[steptoe]

If we done a link up it may be possible to get it to Andy's for you,

Might take a couple of years though,        ,,,,,,,,  

 

[Tony S]

This is the 2nd tale of woe involving ASHP’s I’ve come across. Which has been good as I’m trying to dissuade someone from installing one.

 

[pewter]

The block is only 5 years old and all of the flats had the same model installed.

The other owners we spoke to said they were told that model is long out of date and the company who istalled them has folded. The impression was it had being usual developers cheap lash up.

The owner of the one I looked at said his electric bill since he had been there was very small. He did also say there has never being enough decent hot water to fill a bath.

I feel it is ashame not to replace it with a better model, but a lack of trained inStallers makes it difficult. I can understand that after a week of no hot water he just wants rid of it.