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    J Tee's Avatar
    J Tee Posts: 2, Reputation: 1
    New Member
    		  
    #1

    Jun 29, 2009, 04:46 PM
    Disconnected crankcase heater
    What is the impact on cutting the wires to the crankcase heater in a Trane Heatpump. A technician performed a "free" maintenance and said the heater was not needed here in Orlando and caused my electric bills to be higher than they should be. I am suspicious. Should I be?
    siberianair's Avatar
    siberianair Posts: 360, Reputation: -4
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    #2

    Jun 29, 2009, 05:24 PM

    Do not cut the wires... not costing you anything to run really. Does this tech work for a company or did he just show up and offer free service.
    Maybe call another tech or company next time.
    J Tee's Avatar
    J Tee Posts: 2, Reputation: 1
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    #3

    Jun 29, 2009, 05:57 PM
    He works for one of the mid sized local companies. He did this without my permission. Could this damage my compressor or any other part of the system?
    wmproop's Avatar
    wmproop Posts: 3,749, Reputation: 91
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    #4

    Jun 29, 2009, 06:08 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by J Tee View Post
    He works for one of the mid sized local companies. He did this without my permission. Could this damage my compressor or any other part of the system?

    I don`t see what the harm would be. The only time it serves a purpose is in the winter time,and then only when it get really cold, It does use electricity, never saw one that was solar,, but it is possible I guess
    There are a lot of ac companies out there that don`t even see the need for compressor heaters,, and they get by OK
    I`ll watch and read,, maybe I can learn something
    hvac1000's Avatar
    hvac1000 Posts: 14,540, Reputation: 435
    Heating & Air Conditioning Expert
    		  
    #5

    Jun 29, 2009, 06:16 PM
    Many compressors have a crank case heater of sorts. Any time you have a contactor with only one contact and a pass through on the other side the system is using the windings as a crank case heater. I am not a proponent of disconnecting crank case heaters especially since this is a HEAT PUMP as the poster said and will be run when it is cold.
    siberianair's Avatar
    siberianair Posts: 360, Reputation: -4
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    #6

    Jun 29, 2009, 06:34 PM

    Crankcase heaters are there for a reason... I don't see why techs always want to start taking things out that the manufacuters put there for a reason. Trane, carrier, amana, lennox, york... they all design things a certain way for a reason. Yet techs everywhere think they know better than the engineers that make and design them.
    Sorry for my rant, but tired of people knowing better and changing designs because they feel like it. Or because its not NEEDED... if it wasn't needed they would not have put it in there to begin with!!
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