Many people appreciate heat pumps for their power, versatility and efficiency, but there isn’t typically as much focus on the near silence with which they operate. Therefore, if the heat pump in your Wake Forest, NC, home starts making strange noises, something is almost sure to be wrong. Here are three problematic heat pump sounds and what they usually signify:
Rattling
If you hear this noise, you can safely bet on one of two things. Either debris is sitting somewhere in your heat pump, or some of its components have come loose. In either case, it can interfere with airflow and impede the functioning of important heat pump components.
Natural debris may include dust, twigs and pebbles. Possible loose parts include things like bolts and panel doors.
The simplest and most efficient way to deal with these issues is to ask trained HVAC service technicians to provide you with maintenance services. You should schedule tuneups at least twice every year for heat pumps.
Hissing/Gurgling
These sounds almost always mean that refrigerant is leaking. Hissing occurs as refrigerant gas escapes through holes in the heat pump’s refrigerant lines, and gurgling or bubbling arises as soon as air bubbles move in to fill the area that the gas has vacated. Since this is a toxic substance, you should leave all refrigerant-related problems in the hands of trained professionals.
Buzzing
Heat pumps run on electricity. Therefore, loud buzzing noises may suggest that some of your system’s wires may have lost insulation or began fraying.
Since this may start an electrical fire, you should immediately have service technicians investigate this problem. This sound may also indicate that critical components, like the contactor, relay switch or capacitor, have malfunctioned.
When your heat pump begins making strange sounds, don’t hesitate to act. If you live around Wake Forest, NC, call Quality Comfort Services, Inc. and ask for our heat pump services today.
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