I have Tetco Heat Pump system that came with my house when it was purchased. About a year ago, I started hearing a water hammer in my pipes that I traced back to the solenoid(?) in the picture below. It would continually "click" and cause a small hammer to travel back along my cold water pipes toward the main pressure tank. A small amount of water seeps out at the base of the "coils" when this is happening, as well.
The local firm that installed the Tetco unit is still in business and suggested that I try to bypass this component. The instructions given to me over the phone was that I should be able to open up the top of device and manually lift up a pin.
After looking things over, there's not an obvious way to disassemble the device and I'm hesitant to jump in without knowing more about the device and its function. I did contact a local plumper and he said he doesn't work on heat pumps and referred me back to original installers.
So, can anyone identify the component in the picture and its purpose? Is it safe to bypass and what is the proper way to go about it?
Edit: Video of “clicking” and knocking
Best Answer
As per @Lukus , that unit is a geothermal heat pump that is using well water to provide for an approximately 55 degree source water. Wow, what a waste of good water! If the device you are speaking of is the item on the left side with the gray top and the spring it is temperature sensing control valve, probably made by "Johnson Controls", that maintains a given set point temperature, at the sensing bulbs location. (NO, it is not a solenoid valve) . If you bypass this device you will affect the heat-pumps operation, good or bad, I don't know, and you will probably use much more water. A similar model number of this control would be V47AA or AC. AS for a solenoid valve I do not see one in either picture, but there probably is one somewhere. Item last; the people you called that originally installed the unit are probably not the same people that run the company now. Their advice on how to proceed was not in your best interest and shows that they have little knowledge of your installation.