Loud continous hammering noise from Trane heat pump

[DaveTu]

Hello, This is my first post of this forum and I hope someone can help me out.

My trane heat pump (around 10 years old) works fine in cooling mode and seams to heat ok in heating mode, but whenever the temperature outside gets downs probably lower than 40 or so there is a loud continuous hammering noise coming from the outside unit and I am afraid something is being damaged......it is doing it this morning...outside temp is around 35 and it is non stop whenever the outside part is running......any suggestions? Its been doing this for a quite a while....

Thanks

[Stamas]

Is it a hammering noise or more like a tapping noise after it shuts down?

[DaveTu]

Thanks for your reply....it is a loud non stop hammering while the unit is running....the noise stops immediately upon shutdown.....and it isnt a tapping...it sounds like it is self destructing......I am sure the neighbors hate it at nite when they are trying to sleep so we usually just shut it off and put more covers on the bed....

[kls-ccc]

Is this dual fuel or electric backup? How long has it been doing this? If it is dual fuel and is what I think it is it will quit in a month when the unit stops running and the contactor needs replaced.

[DaveTu]

By dual fuel do you mean gas....then no...only electric backup.........

[Rob_in_WV]

Can you post a video so we can hear the hammering sound? I have 2 ideas and I'm sure there are others with more but if we see/hear it might help.

[second opinion]

also post model #

[DaveTu]

I will try to get video....I turned it off earlier cuz I was afraid it was going to blow....turned it back on now....( a little warmer outside) and it is running normally.....I will also get the model number if I can find it....

thanks for all the input...

[DaveTu]

Got a video in .mov file format....what is best way to link to a reply....

[DaveTu]

Ok...here is a link to the video at photobucket...warning...turn down your speakers......this is really the way it sounds.....



http://s727.photobucket.com/albums/ww279/DaveT053/AC/

[second opinion]

Definitely the compressor,I would turn it off till they get there

[DaveTu]

Is there a reason that it only does this in heat mode ????

[coolwhip]

Just cant stop a trane.