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Heating & Air Conditioning

Noise in Refrigerant Lines

14 years ago

Replaced an old R22 Rheem A/C with 410a Rheem of same size. When running, there is a noise, which starts every 20 seconds and lasts for about 3 seconds. It sounds like a jet of air escaping. The lines go through the wall of a bedroom so the noise is annoying. There was no noise with the old unit.

Installer said it was the refrigerant valve opening and closing and that since 410a operates at a higher pressure, this noise is heard.

It cannot be normal. Suggestions on eliminating?

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Comments (4)

brickeyee
14 years ago
Could be a TXV valve metering refrigerant into the evaporator coil.

Isolating the line from hard contact with surfaces may take care of it.
wallace58
Original Author
14 years ago
The thermostat was incorrectly wired so that on A/C the blower speed was on low instead of high. When corrected to run at high speed, most of the line noise disappeared. The low air flow was causing the refrigerant valve to open and close frequently or "hunt".

I had been told the motor was wired correctly for high speed on A/C but a check of the return air flow showed it to be low. Verified that there was no current in the high speed wire to the blower motor.
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fluffybunnysui
14 years ago
Kinda sounds to me like there is air in the lines. Does it stop & start .... start and stop? Could be the he didnt pull a good enough vacuum and there is air in the copper lines. I'd have a tech check the superheat/subcooling.

Hope this helps
wallace58
Original Author
14 years ago
The noise is gone in the refrigerant lines. Looks like the cause was the low air flow. The condenser coil was also dirty and it was cleaned. It was cleaned only 2 months ago but was dirty after the long run times due to the low air flow. The air flow is 50% higher than before.

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