corrosion on component

[John Dirks Jr]

The pictures show a part with corrosion on it inside a heat pump. The unit is 3 years old.

What caused the corrosion and do you think it will eventually cause a failure? It was working well at the time of the inspection.

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[RickSab]

Is the corrosion only on what looks like a selinoid?

[John Dirks Jr]

Is the corrosion only on what looks like a selinoid?

Yes, the corrosion was only on that part. Is it a solenoid or a capacitor?

[inspector57]

That is a start capacitor that has failed and should be replaced.

It might still work fine without the capacitor, but in hard start conditions the compressor would not have the torque to start.

[Terence McCann]

That is a start capacitor that has failed and should be replaced.

It might still work fine without the capacitor, but in hard start conditions the compressor would not have the torque to start.

The start cap may still be working but as Jim said it should be replaced.

When a start cap fails the device it's connected to will just hum on startup. A start cap gives the device a kick in the a$$ to get it going - much like my morning cofee. The thing going between the two terminals is a bleed resistor.

BTW, good catch.

[John Dirks Jr]

Thanks for the help. I had no reason to believe I would find anything wrong in there. I went in looking for a reversing valve so I could be sure it was a heat pump and not an AC unit.

BTW, can one tell a heat pump by the label on the outside of the unit?

[Jerry Lozier]

BTW, can one tell a heat pump by the label on the outside of the unit?

I've never found anything on a lot of labels that would indicate heat pump, like you, I look for reversing valve, and the thermostat however have found std a/c unit on heat pump thermostat (Heat/cool/aux heat) a time or two....

would also like to know other visual indicators??

Jerry

[Inspectorjoe]

would also like to know other visual indicators??

An AC outside unit will have two control wires going to it while a heat pump will have a thicker cable containing five wires.

[inspector57]

would also like to know other visual indicators??

An AC outside unit will have two control wires going to it while a heat pump will have a thicker cable containing five wires.

Maybe, or not. A heat pump will require more control wires, but there is no reason that the a/c could not have a multi-wire cable. It pretty much depends on what was on the truck the day they ran the stat wire.

You could tell by the reversing valve or the data plate. Depending on the age, most now will tell you it is a heat pump or air conditioner on the data plate. Simple way is to set the unit to heat and see if it runs unless there are lock-outs or dual fuel considerations.