What It Means
Compressor crankcase sump heater is actively operating.
Bryant Heat Pump
Bryant Heat Pump Error Code 68
Troubleshooting guide for the Bryant Heat Pump system fault 68.
Possible Causes
- Normal cold ambient operating status to prevent refrigerant migration.
- Faulty sump heater control circuit or stuck ambient sensor if code persists during operation.
Not sure which one it is — or if it's none of these? Try ACLogics today.
Disclaimer: This information is for general reference. Error codes can vary by model and production year. Always refer to your machine's specific manual and the information printed on the unit itself.
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Full Diagnosis
Compressor Sump Heater Active. This is a status indication, not a fault — the board has energized the compressor's crankcase/sump heater, a resistive element that keeps the compressor shell warm enough to prevent liquid refrigerant from migrating into and pooling in the compressor oil during off-cycles in cold weather. Refrigerant dissolved in the oil at compressor start would flash to gas as the compressor starts, causing oil foaming that washes lubrication away from bearings and moving parts, so the sump heater's job is purely preventive and runs independently of any heating or cooling demand. The heater energizes automatically based on outdoor ambient temperature and compressor off-time, and de-energizes once the compressor is running or conditions no longer call for it, so seeing this code appear and disappear across a cold-weather day is expected normal cycling rather than a fault pattern.
All Recorded Causes
Normal status — no corrective action required. Compressor sump heater is operating to prevent refrigerant migration into the compressor oil during cold-ambient off-cycles, which is standard protective behavior on this equipment, not a symptom of a problem. This typically occurs in cold ambient conditions and should clear once the compressor starts running or ambient temperature rises. If this code persists continuously even after the compressor has been running for an extended period, or persists in warm weather when sump protection shouldn't be needed, check the sump heater control circuit and outdoor ambient sensor for a stuck-on condition rather than treating it as normal.
Verify Before Replacing Parts
- Confirm the exact Bryant model family and heat pumps context before acting on a generic code description.
- Verify airflow first, then confirm operating pressures and temperature relationship before adjusting charge, since normal status — no corrective action required.
- Look for restrictions, iced coils, or dirty heat-transfer surfaces that can mimic a charge problem, and separately confirm compressor sump heater is operating to prevent refrigerant migration into the compressor o….
- After the correction, run the system long enough to confirm the heat pumps fault does not return under normal load.
Still unsure about this fault?
ACLogics walks you through Bryant Heat Pump diagnostics step-by-step — so you confirm the cause before swapping parts.
