Generally speaking, there are only three noises that are normal for a heat pump to make: a temporary clicking, a swoosh when defrosting and a soft hum. Any sounds other than these three, especially when they are long-lasting, indicate that the heat pump in your Floyds Knobs, IN home is in trouble. To help you deal with that trouble, let us tell you about some strange heat pump noises and what they likely mean.
Screeching
A piercing screech or squeal usually points to an issue with your heat pump’s fans or the motor that powers them. One possibility is that there’s some mechanical issue that prevents the fan from spinning as it ought to. Alternatively, the blower motor may be faulty and on the verge of breaking down, or its bearings may be dirty or lack adequate lubrication.
Rattling
Your heat pump may emit rattling noises for various reasons. The simplest of these is a loose cover panel or the presence of some loose screws or bolts somewhere else in the system. Another issue, however, is that some debris, like pebbles, twigs, acorns, or clumps of dirt, is tumbling around inside your heat pump.
In almost all cases, the key to making this noise disappear is to schedule repair or maintenance services for your heat pump, which you should do on an annual basis even if there are no apparent problems with it. Maintenance technicians tighten the screws and bolts, fasten loose parts, and remove foreign objects from the system.
Hissing
Hissing is the telltale noise that signals a refrigerant leak. You will probably hear a hiss when gaseous refrigerant escapes from holes in your heat pump’s refrigerant lines, and you may also notice gurgling once air displaces the refrigerant and forms bubbles. Since refrigerant is so toxic, you should only entrust trained professionals with stopping leaks and refilling your system.
Many signs of heat pump problems are audible, which can help you to know to have them checked. If you hear something wrong, call Lamb’s Heating & Air Conditioning and get the best HVAC repair services in Floyds Knobs, IN.
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