It only seems to do this when I turn my thermostat below 70 degrees.
Is this a heat pump outdoor unit??? Or the indoor unit??
If you have a spark ignitor in your furnace that may explain your ticking. They tick when they are trying to spark. This is the ignitor to light your furnace. Spark ignitions usually have a fat red wire and they look like a spark plug. It may need replaced. If you don't have a spark ignitor, it could be a number of things causing the ticking.
Before you end up with a disaster I suggest you call a HVAC company. Your furnace it ticking because its trying to light. And if its takes an hour thats not good it could be something very simple to something very bad as in the heat exchanger is cracked
