A/C compressor noise

[treestand]

About one of 20 starts, my home A/C outside unit emits a loud growling type of noise for 10 - 30 seconds. I'm thinking the compressor is going out. Any thoughts?

[krisw]

Might need a hard start kit or whatever they are called now.

[Puggy625]

Mine has done that for the last 4 years at least. Once it's running, it's normal. Just sounds like it's about to blow for a few seconds. I put a hard start kit on it when it first started with no help. Just figured I'll wait for it to die and then replace the compressor.

[bowhntrmatt]

Could just be the position of the txv upon startup. Once it adjusts, the noise will subside. This may or may not be helped with the addition of a start kit. but if it does have a txv, it should have a start kit, so it wouldn't hurt to install one anyway.

Or the end is near. How old is it?

[treestand]

Could just be the position of the txv upon startup. Once it adjusts, the noise will subside. This may or may not be helped with the addition of a start kit. but if it does have a txv, it should have a start kit, so it wouldn't hurt to install one anyway.

Or the end is near. How old is it?

What is a txv?

It's a scroll compressor and about 7 or 8 years old.

[lameduck]

You missing a cat?

[deer99hunter]

Could just be the position of the txv upon startup. Once it adjusts, the noise will subside. This may or may not be helped with the addition of a start kit. but if it does have a txv, it should have a start kit, so it wouldn't hurt to install one anyway.

Or the end is near. How old is it?

I concur ! While an expansion valve is fantastic to have for the efficiency value, it can cause a condensing unit to make some odd noises when it is short-cycled.

What is a txv?

It's a scroll compressor and about 7 or 8 years old.

A TXV ( thermostatic expansion valve ) is a metering device in the refrigerant circuit, normally located on or near the evaporator coil on a residential a/c system.

[fishingsetx]

Is it a heat pump? Could be a reversing valve/defrost board acting up.

[tmkrueger]

Sounds like the new Copeland tiger model. LOL

[Uncle Saggy]

Might need a hard start kit or whatever they are called now.

Hard start kit = time for new unit

[PYBUCK]

Could be as simple as a fan bearing starting to seize. Not that big of a problem. New fans are simple to replace

[enewman]

If it has not been doing this it could also , what we call eating liquid. Not enough air flow across the coil. Dirty filter. This will cause the compressor to flood so on start up it has liquid freon on the top of compressor. So on start up it will sound like a desiel.

This is just one problem. There have been others already given

[Uncle Saggy]

If it has not been doing this it could also , what we call eating liquid. Not enough air flow across the coil. Dirty filter. This will cause the compressor to flood so on start up it has liquid freon on the top of compressor. So on start up it will sound like a desiel.

This is just one problem. There have been others already given

30 years in the industry and never heard the phrase "eating liquid"

[enewman]

30 years in the industry and never heard the phrase "eating liquid"

Must be a west Texas thang. How about slugging liquid.

Could be a new phrase. I've only been in it for 24 years. I still remember charging a unit to beer cold. On the suction line

[Uncle Saggy]

Must be a west Texas thang. How about slugging liquid.

Could be a new phrase. I've only been in it for 24 years. I still remember charging a unit to beer cold. On the suction line

Lol

Charge until the big temp drop on the suc line

I understand