I have a common problem … my air conditioner cools okay but does not heat. I am now out of warranty. The unit is a Pompanette 16K unit and Pompanette's customer service and technical staff were great in talking me through the issues and how to check them. That said, the leading candidate is a stuck reversing valve. I've already tried the "bang on it" test to no avail. I was advised that the "screwdriver test" on the solenoid may not be conclusive because the solenoid's magnet field is internal to the solenoid (I'm hoping its a bum solenoid). I've posted a picture of the unit after its run for 30-45 minutes on heat (the exact same freeze up happens on cool). The unit is only about 30 months old and replacement of the reversing valve is going to be a huge labor bill. This may sound silly, but are there any old school solutions to unstick a reversing valve? For instance, is there any way to get some form of lubricant injected that would free it up? Too, how hard would it be to test/replace the solenoid?
Open for suggestions … (and I'm resolved to be expert on this system by the end of the season).
Open for suggestions … (and I'm resolved to be expert on this system by the end of the season).