[nil4664]

Background: Had heat pump with electric strips for EMergency heat. Even the strips didn't do the job and the electric bill skyrocketed. So I converted to natural gas for EM heat, intending to never use the heat pump for heating, only cooling.

They said they programmed the system so that when the outside temp got below 50F the heat pump would automatically switch to gas, but if I set the thermostat to EM heat, it would override this and run gas regardless. I told them I would never use the heat pump for heat, but they implied it had to be done that way.

I always use the EM heat setting, set the temp lower at night, and turn it up in the morning. It has just started getting cold here. So lately I notice the heat doesn't come on until some time after I set the temp up, sometimes hours later. Same thing happens with regular heat pump setting. So now I'm wondering...

Could it be they set the system so NEITHER heat comes on until it's 50 degrees outside?

If so, is this a setting at the thermostat, or outside? Is there some way I can correct this without calling them out again?

Could it be something else?

Just want to be more knowledgeable when I talk to them this time.

BTW, I love the gas heat, when it's working.

 

[beenthere]

Emergency heat over rides the lock out temps. they may not have the thermostat wired right. Post brand and model number of stat. Depending on brand and model numbe, there is an installer set up that you can change that you don't need to set it to emergency heat.

 

[nil4664]

Thermostat is a PRO1, model T855.

 

[nil4664]

Update:

Had the company that installed the system out and the man concluded:

-Thermostat had a bad circuit.
-Pressure switch was gummed up
-Thermostat model would only allow gas heat to work up to 3 degrees below setting then try to switch to heat pump
-Heat pump set so that it won't come on if outdoor temp drops below 50 degrees.

He replaced the thermostat with one (he says) does not have that 3 degree thing and will run only the gas, and cleaned out the pressure switch.

Next morning same thing. The furnace would hum for a minute or two and then quit, but the gas wouldn't come on. Started short cycling later in the morning, and worked fine in the afternoon.

Then they sent an "expert" out and he claimed all that was wrong was a second filter below the (floor) return vent was not allowing enough air through. (Doesn't explain why it wouldn't come on at all in the mornings, does it?) But he just took the second filter off and said it wasn't necessary anyway.

Same thing next morning.

This is a reputable business that has been around for at least 20 years. I don't want to call someone else because it's still under warranty, but they don't seem to understand it.

Does anyone out there have any experience with a setup like this? Is there a secret/trick to setting it up?

Can you give me some clues as to what might be the problem? Anything would be helpful.

 

[beenthere]

May not have enough slope on the drain line for the furnace if its a condensing furnace.

Next time it doesn't come on, look at the panel of the blower compartment, it will have a small window. look inside the window for a flashing LED light. it should flash a code by flashing X number of times. Write down how many times. then turn off the power and remove the panel and look at the legend and see what the code means. then the tech that comes out will have a starting point to find out the problem.