We have an almost 4 year old Trane heat pump. It heated just fine over the winter, but the a/c just doesn't seem to be working. All the mechanical stuff works -- the fans run, the heat pump part (lol) runs, but the house doesn't get cooler. In fact, it gets hotter, as if it's pulling in outside air.

We're in the midst of a heat wave here, PDX style--upper 90s next week, which means that you can't get a soul to come out and work on any type of a/c unit. Bummer. I can escape to my daughter's if it gets really bad, and it will cool off at night, so it could be far worse.

Basically I'm wondering if it's possibly something minor, like running out of refrigerant? (whatever freon is this day and age)... and if not, what else might likely be the problem?

Any tips or ideas greatly appreciated.

Quite possible. It is unlikely that a four year old Trane needs to be replaced. It should be under warranty, at least for parts. Did you register it?

We don't have a Trane but I remember they were well-reviewed when we bought our HVAC two years ago (we got a Lennox).

So, at the risk of stating the obvious, did you google "trane not cooling"? It looks like there's some online info for Trane troubleshooting. I just googled and the first thing that popped up was "a tripped circuit breaker."

Sorry I can't be of more help but good luck!!

A couple of things:

1. Check/change the filter
2. Look at the outdoor unit. Is the outdoor fan running?
3. Look inside the outdoor unit - do you see any ice or frost?
4. Is the compressor running?
5. Is there air coming out of the indoor registers?

1. I honestly don't know where the filter is, but I am 100% sure it needs to be changed. It's been at least a year.

2. Outdoor fan is NOT running!!

3. Compressor appears to be running (I can hear the fan?) -- this is the part that's in the garage

4. Air coming out of registers - nope.

Gee, do you think 2 and 4 might be part of the problem?

Most likely problem, if the fan in the garage is running and no air is coming out, is that the filter is clogged. That may be all there is to it.

Second problem may be that the circuit breaker serving the outdoor unit is tripped. Even if it looks OK, turn it all the way off and then turn it back on again (after you change the filter). If there is shutoff box at the outdoor unit, change those fuses too if it has them. (Home Depot).

Post a picture of the unit in the garage.

Hey guess what? The air handler is apparently a carrier. Who knew?

I'll post a photo once I can figure out how.

If it’s a Carrier I can guess where the filter is.

Unplug/turn off the system at the thermostat. Remove the lower front cover on the air handler in the garage. Lift straight up and pull it toward you.

Look toward the bottom of the air handler and you should be able to see the filter and figure out how to slide it out. Pay attention to the “airflow” arrow on the side of the old filter so you can install the new one the same way.

You can test it without a filter but don’t run if for more than an hour or two that way.

OK, let me try this



I've been snooping around on the interwebs and I haven't found anything that looks like what I have. The closest I've found implies that I should either pull forward from the top OR, like you say, lift up and then pull.

Also, how do I unplug/turn off at the thermostat. The system is off at the thermostat, but I can't find a place to unplug it at the unit. Unless it's that ginormous plug? I'm not sure what that actually goes to. If I trace it, it goes inside the big box, but it doesn't seem very substantial. I've had extension cords that looked more manly than that cord.

Can you tell I am totally clueless about this?

The other thing is that we had a lot of work done in 2017 when we replaced things, including removing an external electric air filter (the guy said it was less than useless and just don't use it and save the energy). So I don't know what is going on. That bottom thing (you just see it in the photo) is Trane-branded. Not sure what it is.

But I do appreciate your help, for sure. I'm just embarrassed by how idiotic I sound and feel right now.

Here's a different angle:

1. If you’ve shut it off at the thermostat, don’t worry about unplugging it.

2. I’ve never seen a heat pump with a gas line. I suspect what you have there is a gas furnace.

3. That cover should lift up and off.

4. This is very difficult to do on the internet. Did you save the owners manual?

PM sent.

Follow up. I'm not telling you anything you don't already know, but Steve Miller and I have been having a PM discussion about my heat pump / AC issues and everything he said was 100% correct. The problem was solved by changing out my air filter and "rebooting" the heat pump, which was on lockout. A simple solution!

BUT what you don't know is that Steve offered to sit in a Zoom call with me and step me through the process. Well above and beyond the call of duty! I ended up calling a repairman out because I had exactly zero time to fix it myself due to work... but it is fixed, and I've even set myself up on an automatic filter replacement schedule courtesy of our local Lowe's.

Thanks again, Steve! I would have been lost without your advice.

Menschy!!

You're lucky these new A/C units have enough electronics in them that they go in to lockout when they can't move enough air. Older units would try to run until the compressor was destroyed.

You don't know what a replacement Trane compressor costs.

Glad I could help!