Noise on compressor start up?

[onewheat]

When one of my outside unit A/C compressors starts up, it usually has a pretty decently loud bang when it kicks on - definitely NOT a soft start. Normal or do I need to get someone to come take a look at it? Home HVAC stuff is not in my knowledge base.

 

[zmaxmotorsports]

Wouldn't hurt.

 

[joel63]

Most definitely.

 

[Milton Shaw]

What sometimes happens is that one of the mounting springs inside the compressor breaks. This lets the compressor inside the black housing hit the housing. Its probably going to fail because of the excess movement. I had one do this and it lasted several weeks before it broke off one of the internal pipes and then it quit cooling. Lots of cost for a spring that probably cost less that $1.00 to begin with.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

What sometimes happens is that one of the mounting springs inside the compressor breaks. This lets the compressor inside the black housing hit the housing. Its probably going to fail because of the excess movement. I had one do this and it lasted several weeks before it broke off one of the internal pipes and then it quit cooling. Lots of cost for a spring that probably cost less that $1.00 to begin with.

^^^This^^^.

Tommy

 

[nsula_country]

What sometimes happens is that one of the mounting springs inside the compressor breaks. This lets the compressor inside the black housing hit the housing. Its probably going to fail because of the excess movement. I had one do this and it lasted several weeks before it broke off one of the internal pipes and then it quit cooling. Lots of cost for a spring that probably cost less that $1.00 to begin with.

True for a reciprocating compressor. Scrolls and rotaries don't have springs inside...

CT

 

[LS6 Tommy]

True for a reciprocating compressor. Scrolls and rotaries don't have springs inside...

CT

Good point. onewheat, how old is the unit?

Tommy

 

[eddieK]

Scrolls...especially the early tecumsehs have a very loud start. Most use compressor blankets to islolate this noise.

You should have it checked out, including the thermostat cycle rate...too short and you could be starting with some liquid at compressor.

 

[yeldogt]

Low charge can cause this --- I had one that was making a noice and it was low (very low due to a leak) ... it had a protection sensor that was not working. Anyway -- it's still running 5 year later. This was a scroll.

Do you hear any lag ? failing softsatrt?

 

[onewheat]

Good point. onewheat, how old is the unit?

Tommy

It is about 2.5 years old - a Goodman 3.5 ton unit.