H/P ODU "howling" at rest

[OZ the Watchdog]

Looked at a lennox ODU today, HO states that unit howls on startup. When I looked at the unit and cycled it, the unit howled after shutdown for a minute or two. this was duplicatable, and each time I cycled the unit to "off" it would howl.

Once in awhile it would howl just prior to startup as well.

As best as I can tell with my mech's sthescope, this noise SEEMS to be refrigerant migrating between the ODU and the IDU, and I seem to have pinpointed the noise to the TXV in the ODU.

IDU and ODU are NOT matched :>( IDU is a Tempstar with a restrictor pin...

lennox model HP25-411-P

Can anyone cofirm/deny this.

Unit is operating OK and I told HO I was not going to tear into replacing the
TXV today (+16F), and I would ask some colleagues.

Any help appreciated.

OZ the Watchdog
Watchdog Heating & Cooling.

[uniservice]

mismatched,,did you do it? IF you didn't I'd run not walk away! You have discovered a hack job of the worst kind. Over the years, I've tried getting technical and getting engineering specs and extra information and wasted a lot of time trying to undo someone elses hack job. Go to the customer, explain that the equipment is mismatched, that they don't have the luxury of Johnny Cash "with a little bit of help from an 'A'dapter kit", and that they only safe and proper way to fix this system is either replace the indoor coil, or the outdoor unit to match the other. If the H/O doesn't wanna do it, go fix someone elses system. If it's that cold, I'm sure you're in demand.

[CynicX]

I agree. Anytime you mismatch equipment like that you run into the problem of having "weird" issues and no tech support.

This does give you the opportunity to replace the equipment though. Face it an HP25-411-P is pretty old regardless. I'll assume 10-15 years? Then at one time they cheaped out an bought just an indoor unit for whatever reason.

You need to explain to them how and why systems are matched together. And YOUR options are extremely limited regardless of what they want to happen. Basically tell them they went a cheap route and not they got what they paid for. If they arent interested in a decent heat pump then move on to someone that is.

The objection handling on this call should be done delicately but is pretty easy. Basically they already know they get what they pay for. So band aiding a POS will be your objection "My greatest fear is you are going to have another company out here that did the same thing the last company did. Is that ok with you?"

Of course if it was your company that replaced the indoor unit, well you are screwed. But you should have know better sooooooo....

I can tell you if you start trying to fix it you will be the loser in the end. Wouldn't it be a good day to replace an odu txv and not fix anything? (sarcasm intended)

[OZ the Watchdog]

Thanx for the input.

NO YOU BETCHA I did NOT sell the unit as a mismatch! It is a new H/O that just bought the home and the work is being "approved" by a large home warranty company. The warranty company has always been fair to me, and I have been to them, also - however I'm certain that they're not going to bite on an upgrade. (the warranty company, anyway)

I tend to agree - if this isn't a problem that ten people respond with, yeah we see that alot - do this (See Amana Unit making noise) then it is truly isolated and NO amount of brazing stuff inside the ODU is probably going to make ANY difference at all.

I wanna help these people, but we don't know what kind of noise the unit was making just a few months ago... I guess if it ain't broke - don't fix it. They should be lucky it's heating at all.

[CynicX]

Thanx for the input.

NO YOU BETCHA I did NOT sell the unit as a mismatch! It is a new H/O that just bought the home and the work is being "approved" by a large home warranty company. The warranty company has always been fair to me, and I have been to them, also - however I'm certain that they're not going to bite on an upgrade. (the warranty company, anyway)

I tend to agree - if this isn't a problem that ten people respond with, yeah we see that alot - do this (See Amana Unit making noise) then it is truly isolated and NO amount of brazing stuff inside the ODU is probably going to make ANY difference at all.

I wanna help these people, but we don't know what kind of noise the unit was making just a few months ago... I guess if it ain't broke - don't fix it. They should be lucky it's heating at all.

A warranty company that is good too you? The fiery molten lakes of hell have frozen over! Hehe but seriously I cant even deal with most of those bozo's anymore...

If you really want to HELP those people then go over it with a fine tooth comb, ignoring the noise. The calculate the EER, then should them a cost comparison of that efficiency of whats available. AND how much quieter stuff can be.

I really doubt you will be able to fix this problem in a cost effective manor. I dont know about you but I charge an arm and a leg for an outdoor TXV (TXV, filter drier, good vacuum, reclaiming refrigerant, virgin charge weighed in). And even then its very unlikely that would fix anything.

Can you describe this "howl" a little better? I've heard high pitch whistling sounds on Rheem systems that were absolutely obnoxious. Never really a howling though...