Heat Pump and Furnace Clicking Sound

[Optimus_George]

I have a Coleman electric heat pump. It's old but still in good shape. Recently, it started to make a clicking noise more physical than electrical. But I'm not ruling that out. It can also be heard faintly inside from the furnace. Also, once when the heat was shutting off, the lights repeatedly "wavered" from on to dim... I hope that makes sense. The clicking isn't rhythmic and doesn't happen all the time nor does it happen through the entire heating cycle.

Two nights ago the Auxilliary Heat light kept on coming on and off in time with the clicking noise. That's been the ONLY time that's happened. It seems to happen worse during the evening more so than during the day. Does anyone know what the cause could be? I've heard the frost panel is bad, the reverse switcher is bad and bad electrical wiring? I just find it odd that it seems to only happen at night. Thanks alot if anyone can help.

[albright]

i would check for a loose connections on the thermostat that my be opening and closing a realy.

[lonestarheir]

Alot of times your backup electric heat is hooked up in a way that if the thermostat is trying to bring the room temperature up more than say 2 degrees it brings them on to help get to the set point temperature faster. Also, your heat pump will bring on your electric heat kit when it is in the defrost mode. If you have been having very cold nights this would correspond with the more frequent timing of the sounds and dimming of the lights. You could be reaching the max on your electrical load and when the heat kit comes on it is a large sudden draw of energy. There are alot of things that could be happening. If it is really bothering you, call a pro to come and look at it.