Why does my condenser run when heat is on?

Your thermostat is set for “heat”, warm air is coming from your vents, and everything in your heating system seems to be working perfectly – except for the fact that your outdoor air conditioner unit is running. Why? The answer is simple: your outdoor unit is a heat pump.

Should my condenser fan run when the heat is on?





Keeping your fan on AUTO is the most energy-efficient option. The fan only runs when the system is on and not continuously. There is better dehumidification in your home during the summer months. When your fan is set to AUTO, moisture from cold cooling coils can drip and be drained outside.

Is the outside unit supposed to run when the heat is on?

The fans in the outdoor unit must also run in order to draw the outside air across the coils where the refrigerant absorbs its heat through evaporation and then takes it indoors.

Why is my AC running but not heating?

The air conditioners have a heating element that will heat up the air. If this heating element is broken, the system may continue to run, but it will not be producing warm air. If cold air is blowing into a room, despite the thermostat working correctly, then a broken heating element could be the problem.

Why does my condenser keep running?

Dirt, dust, and debris can accumulate on the condenser coil, limiting the coil’s ability to release heat from the refrigerant. If the condenser coils are too dirty, the air conditioner’s cooling power is limited so the system has to keep running in attempts to cool each room.

Why does my AC run when it’s colder outside?





As the outdoor temperature decreases, the viscosity increases so it does not flow as easily. The internal pressures drop, and the system is working harder to pump the freon around the system.

Does outside air compressor run on heat?

The heating system is largely isolated to the interior. When you have a standard furnace, the outside AC unit shouldn’t run at all. The interior system works with a few steps designed into it. As you activate the heater, a pilot light or electrical-heating element turns on.

Does condenser fan run on heat pump?

When Should the Fan Run on My Heat Pump? A heat pump system is composed of an outside condenser unit and one or more air handling units inside. Your heat pump fan won’t run when the air handling unit is off.

How do you fix a clogged condenser coil?

Youtube quote:And what you'll do is you'll push these teeth in between the fins. And then you'll move them up and down to straighten the fins back out the way that they were supposed to be but in my experience.

How do you check if condenser is blocked?



Youtube quote:But sometimes it cools and sometimes it doesn't so we're gonna check various spots to see if there are any hot or cold spots showing. It's clogged.

How do I know if my AC condenser is clogged?

A clogged AC drain line symptoms include:

  1. Musty, moldy smell near your indoor unit or in air from the registers/vents.
  2. Standing water near the indoor unit.
  3. Water damage in areas near the indoor unit.
  4. AC system is not cooling your home.
  5. AC system shuts down or doesn’t turn on.


What happens if AC condenser is clogged?



With a clogged condenser, you will notice higher pressures even though you have the right amount of refrigerant in the system. These higher pressures are noticed on both the high and low side. Condensers are subject to clogs because of the leftover particles in the refrigerant.

What happens when condenser clogged?

With a dirty or blocked condenser, even the subcooled liquid temperature coming out of the condenser will be at a higher temperature. This means that the liquid temperature out of the condenser will be further from the evaporating temperature.