Carrier Heat Pump Groaning Sound

17 years ago

We have 2 new Carrier Heat Pumps that were installed last November. My wife had been telling me that they make a strange noise but I hadn't heard it until yesterday. I don't know if the unit was running or shut off at the time, but it made what I would describe as a loud groaning sound that lasted for about 10 seconds. I live in Pennsylvania and the outdoor temperatures were in the low twenties when I heard the sound. Any ideas? Thanks

Featured Answer

tlewis_hvac

17 years ago

The noise could be coming from the defrost cycle.

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Comments (9)

jmahoney
Original Author
17 years ago
Is this considered to be normal or do I need to be concerned?
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ryanhughes
17 years ago
Defrost is very normal. The fan will stop, you'll hear a noise as described, and the unit will be in A/C mode to defrost the outdoor coil.
ryanhughes
17 years ago
By "fan" I mean the outdoor fan, just to clarify. The indoor fan should continue to run with the electric heat strips.
garyg
17 years ago
Scroll compressors typically make that groaning sound when a heat pump goes into a defrost cycle. I have the same moose groan with my Goodman.

If your Carrier has "demand-defrost", the condenser will defrost when required. If it has "time-initiated" defrost, the condenser will run a defrost cycle after a set amount of accumulated run time, if the condenser coil is below 32F.

Good luck with the new system.
Andrea Lambert
6 years ago
Hi there - I realize you made this post some time ago, but I’ve been experiencing the same issue with my heater and it’s barely two years old. I just had the condenser coil replaced two months ago because it was burning through freon. Did you ever discover the source of the groaning? Any insight you could provide would be very helpful!
Barney Tuorc
4 years ago
That noise isn’t normal. Ive had heatpumps for 45 years now. My first was a GE and it was fantastic. Then I bought my first Tempstar. It groaned every time it went into defrost. This isn’t a normal defrost swishing noise. This groan is loud enough you hear it on the opposite end of the house. They replaced it with a new unit and there was no noise. Recently I was dumb enought to buy another Tempstar. Again I got the terrlby loud groan when it went into defrost or when it shut down in very cold weather. Again they replaced it but the new unit is still making the noise!!!!
Barney Tuorc
4 years ago
Someone suggested to look into the King Valve
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Austin Air Companie
4 years ago
noise is subjective. They all make *some* noise. How king valves get dethroned. LOL.

Heat pumps are known for making odd noises. Because? you're trying to get them to produce more and more heat from colder and colder temps. Where do you think this heat is coming from?

You would groan too. LOL.

That said... some HP's are better than others. (Inverter) However that doesn't mean they won't make some odd noises at times. Most the time, they are quieter though.