Electric AC Condener or Heat Pump

[Discovery Pro]

Wow--I can't believe i am having a hard time trying to identify a Condenser.

I guess this is really my weakest area.

1. I inspected a home today and in looking in the Condenser i could not locate the valve (identifying it as a heat pump). It looks like a normal AC electric condenser. The home is all electric -so wouldn't this unit have to be a heat pump? or can there be an electric condenser with an electric air handler with just heat strips?

Sorry for the dumb questions but i dont think i have ever seen this yet. But there will be alot of things i will see with every inspection--i just want to get it right.

Condenser:

Rheem Model #RAFD 036JAS--3 ton i figured that out. [:-graduat

Serial #4082 F3089 4286 -----MFD 08/89

Furnace:

Payne Model #PF1MNC043

Serial # 3007A84915----must be an 2007 unit. Looks brand

new too.

Any help would be appreciated with Heat pump Vs. normal AC

Thanks

DP

[Jim Katen]

Originally posted by Discovery Pro

Wow--I can't believe i am having a hard time trying to identify a Condenser.

I guess this is really my weakest area.

1. I inspected a home today and in looking in the Condenser i could not locate the valve (identifying it as a heat pump). It looks like a normal AC electric condenser. The home is all electric -so wouldn't this unit have to be a heat pump? or can there be an electric condenser with an electric air handler with just heat strips?

Sorry for the dumb questions but i dont think i have ever seen this yet. But there will be alot of things i will see with every inspection--i just want to get it right.

Condenser:

Rheem Model #RAFD 036JAS--3 ton i figured that out. [:-graduat

Serial #4082 F3089 4286 -----MFD 08/89

Furnace:

Payne Model #PF1MNC043

Serial # 3007A84915----must be an 2007 unit. Looks brand

new too.

Any help would be appreciated with Heat pump Vs. normal AC

Thanks

DP

If there's no reversing valve, it's probably an air conditioner with a plain Jane electric furnace.

If it were a heat pump, you'd see a reversing valve, an emergency or auxiliary setting on the stat, and a control cable with five wires in it instead of two.

- Jim Katen, Oregon

[Discovery Pro]

Yes

I think your right....Actually the Thermostat was a rather old Circular DIAL TYPE thermostat..

Thanks for pointing the obvious out to me...

This was the panel tag

Image Insert:

52.54 KB

Anyways I want to thank you for the pointer--I should have put 2 and 2 together to figure that one out. But I just wanted to be sure.

Thanks again

DP

[Bruce King]

Any house that needs a 3 ton A/C should not be using electric strips for heat, too expensive to operate. Make sure the client knows this.

The only "electric heat strip only" heaters I see are in little condos or houses less than 1000 sf.

[inspector57]

Any house that needs a 3 ton A/C should not be using electric strips for heat, too expensive to operate.

I always tell my clients about the cost of operating electric resistance heat, but in some climates, strip heat is all that you need. Actually, electric heat is quite common around here on 3 ton and smaller.

DP, Not to rub your nose in it, but did you notice the first line on the tag? Most tags are not this clear, but the old saying about "if it was a snake..." might be right on this one.[]

[Phillip]

I see that set up a lot in houses that being flipped around here.

[Discovery Pro]

Yes I saw that--or I SEE THE SNAKE THAT ALMOST BIT ME!!!! HAHAHAH!!

Long week this last week and I was playing catch up on a Sunday with more Inspections. SORRY but I just Plain Missed it or in other words i guess my mind was tired and needed confirmation from someone that was fresh.

Thanks again guys and yes in TEXAS this is quite common to just use the heat strips--now if I live back in Nova Scotia- like i did 8 years ago then that would be different.

But with the price of oil in Canada back then I might have wanted those Heat strips-[:-magnify. I was spending about $600-$800 just in oil to fill the tank every two weeks and that didnt include the electric run it. Let me tell you it gets aweful Cold to a Texan living in Canada.

Thanks again

DP

[Home Pride]

Originally posted by inspector57

DP, Not to rub your nose in it, but did you notice the first line on the tag?

FYI, Most Rheem heat pumps have the same sticker.

Dom.