The air conditioner gurgles. Why does my air conditioner make gurgling sounds?

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An air conditioner is a unique thing in its own way and incomparable to others. This is because no system can yet provide the quantity and quality of both cold and warm air. However, you cannot do without problems: maybe the device was not properly serviced, or, for example, a manufacturing defect. Unfortunately, you can’t do without this. One of these problems is gurgling in the air conditioner. In this article we will tell you the main causes of gurgling sounds in the air conditioner and how to deal with them yourself. Go!

The air conditioner makes uncharacteristic sounds - find out the cause

The first thing to do is to find the reason why the air conditioner is gurgling. This can be either a standard characteristic (there is nothing wrong with this - the equipment is operating normally) or a real breakdown.

As we said earlier, all sounds of a split system can be divided into safe ones - they do not in any way affect the operation; critical – the occurrence of a problem requires prompt action.

Safe ones include: crackling and creaking of the system during operation, the air conditioner makes gurgling sounds after turning off the power. Creaking is the result of changes in the temperature of the air conditioner components and plastic, as it either contracts or expands during operation of the device.This phenomenon is quite specific to each split system. The sound of dripping water in the air conditioner occurs when the coolant flows down the drainage system - a completely normal situation.

A breakdown appears more clearly when there is a sudden change in the sound of the air conditioner or when something gurgles in the air conditioner. This directly indicates a malfunction of structural parts: engine, compressor or fan. If you cannot independently identify the reason why, for example, the indoor unit of the air conditioner is gurgling, contact a diagnostic center or service center if there is a warranty.

The noise indicator for a stably operating device is at the level of 22-28 dB. Sounds are produced both by the compressor, which pumps air, and by the fan, which moves the air mass in the room. The noise level is greatly influenced by the assembly of the device and the quality of its components. In most situations, all manufacturers' models fit into the indicators indicated above.

By default, the air conditioner gurgles water in winter when you turn on the room heating mode. With all this, sounds may not leave the system even when turned off.

Among all the reasons why the air conditioner squeals, it is worth noting two main ones:

• unstable operation of drainage equipment;
• Leakage of freon - coolant. The result is “airing” of the system.

The air conditioner also gurgles when turned on or off. The compressor begins to accelerate the refrigerant when turned on, or its movement slows down - the device is turned off. Usually the air conditioner makes strange noises for the first few minutes, and then runs silently. It’s like with a coffee machine: first, water is poured into the heater - the device makes noise, and only then everything goes like clockwork.

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The air conditioner gurgles when it is turned off - what to do?

If uncharacteristic noises do not leave the device even after it is turned off, this directly indicates that the air conditioner drainage system was installed incorrectly. The air conditioner gurgles in the wind when it “blows” into improperly secured drainage pipes.

If the pipes are installed at the wrong angle, then some of the moisture simply cannot escape: bubbles are created under the pressure of the compressor and what happens is that the air conditioner gurgles when turned off. It is even possible that the system may become clogged - then the water has nowhere to go, and the result will be a moisture leak under the internal unit of the split system.

Also, similar sounds appear when the drainage is not secured with pipes and is not discharged into the street, but directly into the sewer. In this case, the switched off air conditioner gurgles louder than ever, and the sound is transmitted either from the cesspool or through the water seal.

Incorrect drainage angles can cause sounds, but this is not as common as other causes. This is because condensation appears only in warm weather - the air conditioner works for cooling. When it is turned on heat, water does not flow out of the drain.

How do freon circuits cause an air conditioner to make gurgling noises when turned off?

When the split system does not work for cooling, but vice versa, the properties of both the evaporator and the pump change. The pumped freon enters the evaporator in a liquid state. There it heats up to about 60-80 degrees and is distilled through a compressor. The result is warm air entering the room. The process is the opposite of the cooler, so water does not come out of the external unit.

In the outer part, freon enters in the form of a liquid and can gurgle.If the air conditioner is running, freon circulates from the evaporator to the condenser and the device, in principle, cannot make a squelching sound.

The air conditioner squeals in the wind only when the freon channels are damaged (the integrity of the entire system is compromised, there is a refrigerant leak). The pressure in the system changes sharply, which causes an unpleasant noise.

If the main reason is not in the refrigerant circuit itself, then you can try to solve everything yourself, even without a professional. First, the angle of inclination of the drainage system tube is checked. Water drainage must be carried out in such a way that water flows normally from the external unit. The bend should not reach a straight perpendicular. The sharper the angles for the tube, the better for draining liquid.

Damaged areas are replaced with new parts, and bends are straightened to the angle required by the system. The condensate drain can be extended and placed directly near the surface of the earth - this way we solve the problem of wind getting inside the pipe. Also clean the indoor unit and drain pan, as the sound may come from there too.

If, when installing a split system, drainage is discharged into the sewer system, the presence of a special siphon is checked. If there is none, then purchasing and installing the latter will eliminate the moment of gurgling in the air conditioner.

If these actions do not lead to the expected result, be sure to contact a specialist. The service center will check all refrigerant circuits and fill the device with freon.

The air conditioner gurgles from the wind - what can you do yourself?

If the problem is not fixed in a timely manner, the air conditioner may simply break down. And a new purchase will cost much more than an old split system that has served for many years.

Here are a few points that will reduce the possibility of technical malfunction of the equipment:

1. Perform scheduled maintenance frequently. It will help identify problems and quickly localize them. Self-diagnosis – 2-3 times a year. When the air conditioner is operating in “cold” mode, check it every month.
2. Maintenance of the indoor unit is carried out by washing it with a cloth and cleaning agents. Periodically clean the outer part of dirt and debris.
3. Prepare the device for operation at different times of the year (summer or winter) and adhere to the operating instructions. Do not turn on the system when the outside temperature is acceptable and the air conditioner will make little difference.

Preventative maintenance of the device can prolong its life for many years, and will bring pure pleasure to the owners. In case of any failure, immediately find out the reason or take it to service - believe me, this will save you much more money than dealing with the consequences.