Anybody know about home A/C's?

XR6Dan · 16-01-2007, 11:44 AM

I have a window rattler in the daughter’s bedroom and it's started to make a burbling noise when the compressor kicks in. When I got it new it was really quiet when the compressor started, and from past experience with these things I'd expect a certain amount of noise when the compressor starts until the gas fills up the evaporator at the front.

The problem is that this noise is persistent throughout the entire cooling cycle. I have had the service people from LG have a look at it is they said it's 'normal' to have this noise, but surely it's not supposed to carry on for the whole cycle?

Any help with a solution would be great.

EA2BA · 16-01-2007, 11:50 AM

Sounds like its low on gas, does it cool as effeciently as it used to.

drbones4u2 · 16-01-2007, 11:53 AM

ive had one that did that, a few months later it stopped working due to a small gas leak. once the leak was fixed and recharged the machine ran silent as...

XR6Dan · 16-01-2007, 12:15 PM

I don't know if it cools as effeciently as it used to, it still cycles so I assume that it is getting to the temperature setpoint.

The A/C is only 14months old and hasn't been used since last year.

Is there a way to check the gas level?

EA2BA · 16-01-2007, 12:19 PM

Most a/c's have a viewing hole to see the gas level (same as your car), but where it would be or how hard to get to in the home a/c is a good guess.

SPK-250 · 16-01-2007, 02:19 PM

Sounds like it needs a re-gas. Contact an A/C mechanic or fridge mechanic and they will be able to do it for you. It isn't a long process and not hard at all, unless it has a leak.

fairmont1998 · 16-01-2007, 10:22 PM

Room airconditioners do not have a sightglass, and any airconditioner will never need a regas, unless its lost some gas due to a leak. Does anyone have their fridge regassed for the hell of it? Air conds are the same, the gas does not wear out, or lose efficiency, so if its working don't touch the gas. Its a waste of time and money.

XR6Dan- I would suspect you are hearing the refrigerant(gas) flashing off as it leaves the capilliary tube. If it never did this, but now does, it is possible there is a small leak and some refrigerant has been lost. Can you see ice on the evaporator after its been runninng for 10 minutes or so? Especially near the start of the evaporator where the capilliary goes into it.

XR6Dan · 17-01-2007, 10:46 AM

Yes, I have seen ice at the top of the evaporator (but not 100% sure if this is where the capilliary goes in) - I'll pull apart and look further tonight.
The sound is simillar to when there are air bubbles in the hose.
The A/C didn't do this when it was new - no gas noise at all (in fact it was pretty damn quiet compared with other units I've had). Then, it started to do it at the start of the cycle like most A/C's do and I though that it was just loosening up/wearing in/what ever. The gas noise is now persistant through the whole of most cycles, and sometimes it does go quiet but it's only 1 in every couple of cycles.

It is annoying that I know that it shouldn't be doing this (at least this bad) and the LG maintenance guy told me that it's "normal" which is BS as far as I'm concerned.

Annie1962 · 17-01-2007, 06:25 PM

I got warned by an airconditioning expert that LG are the worst for warranty honouring and also after sales service.
I'm getting myself a Panasonic *crosses fingers*

fairmont1998 · 17-01-2007, 07:58 PM

If you are seeing constant icing of part of the evaporator and the gurgling noise, it's a pretty safe bet the unit is low on refrigerant and therefore has a leak, sounds like its a small leak too.

XR6Dan · 17-01-2007, 09:30 PM

Cheers for all the advice fairmont1998, you've been a great help - I've put another call to the servce people and waiting for them to call back.

fairmont1998 · 18-01-2007, 07:49 PM

No problem

JADED6 · 19-01-2007, 05:29 AM

Hands up if you'd wanna be a refrigeration mechanic in summer? :P

Zed7fiddy · 19-01-2007, 07:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JADED6

Hands up if you'd wanna be a refrigeration mechanic in summer? :P

My old man is, guess what i used to have to do every year on school holidays!

on another note, sounds like a leak, but give the filter a clean for shits n giggles too mate, thats something people do not do enough! (myself incuded!)

drbones4u2 · 19-01-2007, 10:04 AM

snap, LG seem to have problems (the evaporator started leeking again, this time you could smell it), have now replaced the unit with one from the Warehouse NZ, cost $300 brand new, less than 10% of the LG unit, and appart from a noisy fan gaurd it works ausome. the installation was so easy to, did it myself (but wouldn't recomend doing it ya self to everyone).