Hydrokientix Heating System Not Heating

damonl73

The storage unit of my Hydrokientix heating system is not heating the water. The indicator light does turn green when we hit off-peak, so that much appears to be working. I'm not sure how to determine if it thinks it should be heating the water and can't (bad heating element, blown fuse???), or if a sensor that tells it when to heat is bad (outside temperature sensor, etc). Information on these is hard to come by so any help would be appreciated.

Thanks.

beenthere

Did you try resetting all breakers inside the panel/control box on the hydro?

Did you setting it to over ride?
Have you checked its water level(too low it won't activate the heaters)?
Is your an analog or digital control?
When is the last time it was serviced?

damonl73

I think I reset all the breakers, but I will attempt again to be sure. Tried flipping the override switch and nothing happened, but maybe I didn't leave it switched long enough. Water level looks fine, but will take a closer look to be sure. I think its an analog control.

We also have a heat pump. Had both the indoor and outdoor heat pump units replaced last fall and everything worked as expected last winter and up until a few days ago this winter. I guess the Hydrokientix part of the system wasn't serviced at that time. They kind of tried to talk me into getting rid of the Hydrokientix. What type of service do these need? The HVAC company I've used is familiar with these (so they say), but they never recommended any kind of service.

Thanks.

beenthere

The high temp pot. Needs to be moved from its setting every couple years. Or it just stops allowing the Hydro to work.
Water added every year. Just a alittle bit. Don't rely on the expansion tanks guage alone to check water level. Sometimes they get so dirty inside. That the ball sticks in place(guessing yours is the round guage glass).

Inhibitor should be added every couple years. To keep them from rusting out.

The safeties should also checked. Along with the DC contactors for the heating elements(checked for pitting).

That thing can sound like a freight train if a relay sticks and it starts making steam.

damonl73

What's the high temp pot?

Opened up the valve to add water. It took some, not much though, before it came out the overflow.

Where do Iadd the inhibitor?

Thanks.

beenthere

The inhibiter has to be pumped in.
Usually need a utility hose to do it.

The high POT will be the third one on the right on the lower portion of the control board. A couple inches from the bottom. Turn off the power before before doing it.

Do you have a multimeter. To check the temp sensors, and the low water pressure sensor.

damonl73

I discovered something else last night. The pump that circulates the water was hot, making a low noise, like it was trying to run but can't. I shut the breaker off for the pump. That part was replaced a few years ago. Could they go bad that quickly? Its a Taco pump. Seems strange that the water isn't heating AND the pump is malfunctioning. Also, the heat pump last night didn't seem like it could generate as much heat as we were calling for. The temperature didn't drop below 71 in the house all night, but 71 doesn't feel warm enough on cold nights.

Thanks for all the info so far.

beenthere

The circ will feel hot. Even though its circulating cold water. The motor will get hot.

With out the Hydrokenetic. You were probably at the limits of what the system can do.

damonl73

Yeah, I figured the system just couldn't keep up.

I never noticed the pump was hot before except when it was actually pumping water. I didn't think it was supposed to use the hot water at night, from what I was told. It certainly possible whoever told me was wrong.

beenthere

It uses the hot water anytime the thermostat calls for second stage (aux) heat.

Your circ is circulating water. just its cold water.

If you don't get your hydro working tonight. Disabling the circ will help to heat your house. When the circ is circulating cold water. That cold water is absorbing some of the heat from the heat pump.

damonl73

Techs are here. Apparently it's the heating elements. He figures one went bad at some point and the other just recently. He also said my unit is one of the originals and getting out those elements is no easy task. They are working on getting them out, then we'll refill the tank, and hopefully everything's working again. Thanks for all your input. I appreciate it. I'll post back the final results when they're in.

beenthere

Make sure they add inhibitor when they refill it.

Thats a bare steel tank. You don't want air(oxygen) to have a chance at rusting it out.