Newtown Square, PA

Fully assessed bedroom not heating. Got homeowner to turn up the thermostat and heating mode when I arrived. Check temperature rise across air handler. Temperature rise was 24° very good. Put thermometer in vents in bedroom that is not heating correctly. Air coming out of vents was 93°. After going up in attic space found ductwork was just large flexes feeding small triangular duckboard boxes to each room. System does not heat correctly due to ductwork design. Asked homeowner if she wanted someone to come out to give an assessment on putting actual trunk ductwork with flexes to each rooms at this time she Does not want this. Asked her what she normally keeps the thermostat set at. She keeps it at 68° recommended to her that while having guests to raise the thermostat to try to help heat this bedroom, but it will only heat so well due to bad ductwork design . Someone previously went in the attic before I arrived and had got insulation on the floor.

Returned to site to install the universal pressure switch. Turned power off to system and removed the old Pressure Switch. Installed the universal pressure switch. Found loose connections on the wiring so I added new wiring connectors. Resorted power to the system and put into operation. Tested the system in heating mode and the REME turned on/off with the blower. Switched system to Fan only and lowered the blower speed down to 55%. REME was working and then shut off. Tested voltage on the plug and was reading 27 Volts. Removed the cover of the REME and could smell that it had burned up. Wiring was correct and voltage was reading correct. Something internally has failed with the REME. Spoke with the homeowner and let him know of what happened. At this point he does not want to deal with the REME since we have been there multiple times. He asked if we can remove the REME altogether and he gets a refund. Will speak with Joe and let him know of the situation.

Removed through the wall A/C unit and installed new mini split system, installed 1/4 and 5/8 lineset with slim duct, installed new 18x38x3 pad, installed snow legs under unit, installed disconnect with surge protector, replaced 30 amp breaker with 20 amp breaker, used existing electrical, connected high and low volt wiring, installed duct board inside and out to fill hole, cleaned work area, tested out.

Arrived to call for a smell. Spoke to tenant and he described it as a “burning chocolatey smell” and he would hear a swoosh and water noise sometimes. I explained to him about the defrost cycle in colder temperatures being the reason for the swoosh and water noise. I put unit in emergency heat to see if it would replicate smell for him. I let run in em heat for 10-15 minutes and no smell. I then switched unit over to heat pump and let that run for the same amount of time and he still said he didn’t smell anything. In both heating modes air temperature rise is within specs. Blower speed set to lowest speed. I proceeded to roof to check refrigerant pressures. I had a 73° indoor temp and 46° outdoor temp. Suction psi was 119 and discharge pressure was 380. System is normal operation and no issues at this time of service. Unsure what smell could be in unit. Tested every option.

Upon arrival spoke with homeowner about issue. He said the REME LED was not turning on when the system was running. Turned the Blower Fan on to test. The REME was not turning on. Measured pressure across the switch at around 0.18” WC, with the switch rated at 0.14” WC. Increased the Blower speed in increments of 10% starting at 55% until the REME would turn on at 85%. Left blower speed set to 85%. Turned system to heating mode and in second stage heating the REME would also turn on. Tested in AC mode and it was not enough airflow/pressure to turn the REME on. Moved the locations of the tubing for the pressure switch in the ductwork and that did not change the readings. REME is currently working in Heating Mode and Constant Fan. Let Lee know we would see if there is either a lower rated Pressure switch we can use, or if there is a relay that we could install instead of the pressure switch. Let him know we would follow up with him next week.

Estimate

Upon arrival for a no heat I turned on tstat and proceeded to attic. I found the unit cycling but not firing. Noticed that the ball valve was closed for gas supply. Turned on gas and unit came on. Checked gas pressures 1.6/3.5. Performed combustion test. Unit is in normal operation.

Upon arrival for maintenance on gas furnace I changed air filter. Changed water panel and did maintenance on humidifier. I cleaned the flame sensor. I inspected heat exchanger and burners. I checked blower motor and assembly. I checked the resistance of igniter. Checked all wiring and control board. I checked inducer operation and ensured hose port was clear. I checked gas pressures. Checked air temperature rise. Performed combustion test. Unit is in normal operation at this time. Upon arrival for heat maintenance on heat pump tune up I changed the filter. Checked electrical and wiring and emergency heat kit. Checked blower motor and assembly. Checked delta t. Inspected coils. Checked fan motor and assembly. Unit is in normal operation at this time.

Performed precision heat pump tuneup on five heat pump systems. Replaced one 16 x 25 x 1“ air filter, replaced two 16 x 20 x 1“ air filters, replaced two 20 x 20 by one air filters. Serviced three humidifiers with number 35 humidifier pads and tested operation. Found UV system broken on dining room air handler, provided estimate to install Apco XUV air purifier. Checked operation of emergency heat on all systems. Check temperature rise on all systems. Tested out to work capacitors. Check refrigerant pressures and temperatures at indoor and outdoor units. All heat pumps are working at time of service.

Performed tune up on rheem gas furnace ran unit in heating mode and tested combustion as well as gas pressures. Temperature split was taken across unit and filter was changed, unit is spark ignition so ignition rod was tested and cleaned as well as flame sensor burners were inspected as well as heat exchanger and blower motor no issues with unit unit at this time, customer was given estimate on service agreement, but she denied at this time