During normal operations, heat pumps should not emit anything more than a low humming sound. If your heat pump in your Tuckerton, NJ home malfunctions, you may start hearing all kinds of noises. Here are a potential reasons for a noisy heat pump.
Hissing, Bubbling or Gurgling
This group of noises is one of the primary signatures of a refrigerant leak. Refrigerant should circulate through your heat pump’s refrigerant lines and move from the evaporator coil to the compressor and from the condenser coil back to the evaporator coil in a cycle.
However, when some refrigerant leaks out of the system, air will take its place inside the refrigerant lines, causing air bubbles to create hissing, bubbling or gurgling sounds. The way to solve this problem and eliminate these noises is to replace the lost refrigerant. HVAC technicians can do this for you during system maintenance.
Vibrating or Rattling
The simplest explanation for this noise is that your heat pump has a loose cover panel. The obvious solution here is to tighten the screws on the panel. If the sound persists, try placing a rubber mat under the vibrating area.
Rattling noises usually indicate more serious issues that require professional intervention. For example, your system’s air handler may be malfunctioning, or its coolant piping may be too tight.
Banging
If loud banging noises begin coming from your heat pump, it may mean that some important component of the system has come loose. A loose fan blade is the most likely culprit here, but it’s not necessarily the only explanation. Blower motor issues might also create this sound.
Once you know what to listen for, your ears can quickly become essential tools for spotting heat pump issues. No homeowner should ignore noises like those we’ve mentioned above. Call Comfort Zone Home Services in Tuckerton, NJ to schedule HVAC services as soon as you hear that something is wrong.
Image provided by iStock