How to diagnose running water sounds in refrigerant piping at the air conditioner, heat pump, or refrigerator:

What causes running water sounds or burbling or gurgling noises heard in the refrigerant piping or tubing in an air conditioning or heat pump system? Gurgling noises in HVAC or refrigeration equipment is often traced to an improper refrigerant charge, refrigerant gases in the liquid refrigerant line.

Air conditioner or heat pump noise diagnosis & cure: this air conditioning repair article series discusses the diagnosis and repair of air conditioning compressor noises which range in importance from normal (if annoying squeaks and squeals, to rattling loose bolts and hardware, to costly compressor damage indicating air conditioning compressor or A/C compressors at or near end of their life.

Running Water Sounds in Refrigerant Piping, Compressor, Air Handler may sound like flowing water or gurgling

Refrigerant floodback noises - running water or gurgling sounds in the refrigeration piping

Reader Question: I have a 4 ton heat pump that hisses when it shuts down in 40* weather. The frig. lines run in the wall near bedroom. Sounds like freon running back to or from compressor, Only in heat cycle. - richdunegan@gamil.com 12/11/11

Question: Just this morning I noticed when my heat unit/pump was running it sound as if water was draining through pipes. (The out side connections to the pump/inside unit run over head in my laundry room) So far there's been no other issues. Any idea what this could be? Should I be concerned? Once the heat shuts off this draining sound quits. - Ruth 1/25/12

Question: I live in a 1st floor apartment. When the A/C of the resident on the 2nd floor turns on, there is a sound like cascading water in about 1 minute intervals and lasts for 15 seconds or so. This continues under the unit turns off

I have been told by maintenance that it's the freon rushing through the pipe and that it's normal. I have lived in several apartments and have never heard this before. Invariably, for some reason, condenser units are always just outside bedroom windows. lol

So, my question is, is this indeed normal? - Anonymous 2016/06/27 by private email

Reply: causes of running water, bubbling sounds or burbling gurgling noises in HVAC equipment

1. Under-charged refrigerant or a problem originating at the condenser/compressor might cause running water sounds in the high pressure refrigerant line on an HVACR system, though usually complaints are traced to these second condition we state next.
   
   See UNDER CHARGED REFRIGERANT, EFFECTS for more details.

Bubbling in the refrigerant piping is discussed

at REFRIGERANT LEAK REPAIR

and may indicate a refrigerant leak, though bubbling sounds on split systems at the indoor wall unit may be normal for some products.

2. Refrigerant floodback noise can occur at any time not just at startup. Floodback noises are likely to be heard in the suction line of the HVACR system.

Running water sounds, bubbling, burbling, gurgling noises in the air conditioning or refrigeration system suction line may be due to liquid refrigerant in the suction line on the low-pressure side of the system.

Floodback happens in the suction line when liquid refrigerant is burbling along where we expect to find only refrigerant in a gas state. That might be caused by a problem with the refrigerant metering device or by an HVACR system that has been overcharged - too much refrigerant has been added to the system.

Watch out: A severely overcharged system compressor can have floodback when running and this can lead to compressor failure from oil being flushed from compressor or broken valves in reciprocal compressors. - Tommy 1/15/2012

3. Equalizing refrigerant pressures at shut down or at a heat pump when the reversing valve operates or when the system reverses direction for defrost during a heating cycle can cause whooshing sounds that are normal. But at this point you may also hear gurgling or bubbling sounds - in that case check for low refrigerant.

Ruth,

Also check for running water sounds traced to drain piping that receives air conditioner or heat pump condensate from a condensate pump.

Because the condensate pump only runs when its reservoir is filled, the pump on-off cycle will be irregular, but the pump may be sending water into a building drain that, because of its material (plastic) and location (not through sound-insulated space) could show up as a running water or gurgling sound.

Anonymous: "Normal" to some techs is "problem" to others - it depends on exactly what's going on.

For example, insufficient charge of refrigerant or air contaminants in the system can cause one to hear refrigerant burbling along in the high pressure line where normally the line is full and silent. If my guess is right, ultimately the 2nd floor resident will have no cooling and the system will have to be repaired properly.

Reader follow-up: evacuate and re-charge the system with refrigerant?

Question. Would evacuating and recharging the system be a course of action? And is this an expensive process? Or is the way to look at it do this and you won't have to replace the compressor?

Reply: fix the refrigerant leak, install the factory-specified volume of refrigerant charge

Yes. And yes. But the cost to properly charge an HVACR system is certainly significantly less than wholesale replacement of the compressor/condenser. I'm unclear on why someone has suggested that compressor replacement is needed for this problem.

Keep in mind that anybody diagnosing a complex system by e-text is unable to see onsite clues that would shout loudly to any competent expert who is on-site.

Assuring that the system is properly charged is a step techs take to address the running water sound problem we're discussing as would be appropriate for a low refrigerant charge for any reason. Some HVACR systems include a sight glass on the refrigerant line that allows the tech to actually see the refrigerant gas bubbles but most residential systems don't.

Returning to the question of refrigerant charge vs. running water sounds in the piping:

A tech who's trying to guess at the refrigerant charge on a running system will measure temperatures on the high and low lines, but all that tells you is that there is enough refrigerant to cool the coil, not that the full measured charge called for by the manufacturer has been placed into the system.

It's an expensive and low quality but very common repair to simply add enough refrigerant to get the system cooling. That is very likely to be less than the charge volume specified by the manufacturer (and profitable for the service company). If there is an ongoing refrigerant leak, the system will ultimately stop cooling again, perhaps first icing the coil then stopping cooling entirely.

A proper and best repair when the refrigerant charge is low is to find and fix the refrigerant leak, then place a proper charge in the system, charging with the quantity of refrigerant specified by the manufacturer. Most HVACR systems other than very small ones include a receiver that buffers a charge of refrigerant that is larger than simply the bare minimum needed to fill the tubing and compressor.

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Reader Q&A - also see RECOMMENDED ARTICLES & FAQs

On 2019-08-13 by (mod) - is the noise gurgling water - condensate drainage, or is it bubbles in the refrigerant line?

Christine:

If the "water" noise is actually water - that is condensate - then the condensate should be draining out of the back of the window AC unit. If the unit is leaking into the room then it needs service to find and fix the drain blockage.

If on the other hand, you're actually hearing a gurgling sound that has nothing to do with condensate (actual water) the unit may have a refrigerant leak - call the company and ask for warranty service as your unit is only a couple of months old.

On 2019-08-13 by Christine

I bought my window unit in June now I hear water in it what can I do

On 2018-10-14 by (mod) - gas bubbles in the liquid refrigerant line

I would call for repair: Sounds like gas bubbles in the liquid refrigerant line. That can mean low refrigerant and thus a leak to find and fix. Let me know what your technician says.

On 2018-10-14 by Libby

Just turned heat on first time this year and I hear bubbling when the fans on. Should I turn it off

On 2018-06-18 by Anonymous

What does it mean when it sounds like water running in a air conditioner

On 2018-04-27 by (mod) -

Sounds like gas bubbles in the liquid refrigerant line - as I suggested.

On 2018-04-26 by Brian

Thanks. It's definitely not from the condensate drain. The lines are very closely routed but it appears to be coming from the smaller / liquid line going in to the air handler. That's the location where I hear it. I have about 20 feet or so between the Heat-Pump pump outside and the Air handler inside the basement and I will occasionally with hear "the liquid noise" about 1 foot before the line goes into the air handler.

It's funny though: Is it the changing / cooling temperatures outside as the temps drop, that makes the sound happen?

(I ask this because the heat pump was not running for 3 days prior to me hearing the sound in the liquid line). I only hear it "every now and again" when the heat pump has not been running like this. (I do hear the same noise when the unit is running as well..... usually before / after the reversing valve switches).

On 2018-04-24 by (mod) - Gurgling Sound / HVAC.

Often gurgling sounds in the refrigerant piping are a telltale of low refrigerant or a TEV malfunction - gas bubbles in the liquid line, for example.

If the sound is from the condensate drain it's water - a different topic entirely.

On 2018-04-24 by Brian

Gurgling Sound / HVAC. This is odd. Our heat pump is off. It hasn't run in 3 days. (It's set to 60 degrees and it's currently 68 in the house). It was 70+ degrees the past 2 days (dropping down to appx 46 degrees at night). It's currently midnight and I was just in the basement where I heard a gurgling / "water flowing" noise in the small line going into the Air Handler. It lasted for about a minute or so and then "died out". Any thoughts ??

On 2017-06-22 by yhanja the toilet gurgles, drains out

After running the shower for 10 minutes, the toilet gurgles, drains out, and then fills to the brim - hands off.

On 2016-09-20 0 by Anonymous

I have a split system with two zones. An upper (second floor) and a lower (basement). The upper system stopped working and was diagnosed as a leaking coil.
The coil was replaced with a "higher capacity" coil , and now works fine.

But now, only when the system is running, I hear very loud running water sound from this upper unit. It's like a faucet full blast!
It stops , and starts, as soon as the unit shuts off or on. The installer , via a phone call, said it may be the condensation from the more efficient new coil.

As loud as it is, I have a hard time believing it's condensation.
Thoughts?

Question: running fluid noise in the pipes after the fan stops: refrigeration pipe gurgling sound

(Aug 31, 2015) john stanaway said:
The air sending unit continues to make a running fluid noise in the pipes after the fan shuts.

The weird thing is that a loud noise will stop the running water noise in the air sending unit. It makes no sense. When I yell "stop" it stops if not the water sound in the pipes continues. Any ideas? 520-302-9990 John

Reply:

John:

Maybe we can hire you to get some other annoying things to stop by shouting at them - sounds remarkable!

I'm guessing there is gas in the refrigerant piping OR condensate drain water noise. See if you can pinpoint the source

More gurgling sounds that are also described as "running water noise" are described

at GURGLING SOUNDS from the AC or refrigerant piping

Question: water rushing sound from neighbour's A/C system

Just wanted to update you on the water rushing sound when my neighbors A/C is running.

The property manager had a heating and cooling contractor look into this and he concluded that the problem is how the lines were run during construction. There are three sets of lines running through the foundation just below the outside wall.

That outside wall is my bedroom wall. He did check the freon and found it to be correctly serviced.
So that's it. They say it's not financially feasible to repair. I want to thank you again for your time and help. - by private email from Paul Murnane 2016/07/17

Reply:

Thanks for the update. I'm disappointed, though and I'm not confident in that "checked the freon" step. An A/C unit may continue to cool with improper refrigerant charge - for a while. While of course there may be a design or condition about which I'm uninformed, in normal A/C systems properly set-up, there are no "running water sounds" in the refrigerant piping.

The high pressure line from compressor/condenser to the refrigerant metering device at the cooling coil is filled with liquid refrigerant. Filled. The suction line on the outlet end of the cooling coil is filled with low pressure gas. Filled.

Running water sounds in refrigerant piping might come from:

• Liquid in the low line risks destroying the compressor motor.
• Gases in the high line mean the charge is improper or possibly some other problem at the condenser.

• If there were "running water" sounds attributed not to refrigerant piping but to an air conditioning or heat pump condensate line, that'd be a different story, perhaps a clogged drain or trap.

Sooner or later this noise chicken will come home to cackle (or roost) as gas bubbles in the liquid refrigerant line probably mean an undercharge and perhaps a refrigerant leak that ultimately means the system will stop cooling. If you and I are still around I hope you'll let me know when that happens.

Reader follow-up:

Question. Would evacuating and recharging the system be a course of action? And is this an expensive process? Or is the way to look at it do this and you won't have to replace the compressor? - Paul Murnane

Moderator reply:

Yes. Keep in mind that anybody diagnosing a complex system by e-text is unable to see onsite clues that would shout loudly to any competent expert who is on-site.

But generally assuring that the system is properly charged is a step techs take to address the problem we're discussing. Some HVACR systems include a sight glass on the refrigerant line that allows the tech to actually see the refrigerant gas bubbles but most residential systems don't.

A tech who's trying to guess at the refrigerant charge on a running system will measure temperatures on the high and low lines, but all that tells you is that there is enough refrigerant to cool the coil, not that the full measured charge called for by the manufacturer has been placed into the system.

It's an expensive and low quality but very common repair to simply add enough refrigerant to get the system cooling. That is very likely to be less than the charge volume specified by the manufacturer (and profitable for the service company). If there is an ongoing refrigerant leak, the system will ultimately stop cooling again, perhaps first icing the coil then stopping cooling entirely.

Reader follow-up:

I've convinced my property manager to get yet another contractor to come address this. The intent is get someone to evacuate and service the system. Hopefully, they'll really fix what cause the problem in the first place. She told me that I could have you come and access the situation. I sure wish you could! But I told her that wasn't possible.
She did ask about you as far as your credentials. I didn't recall for sure, but I knew you had years of experience.
I'll keep you advised.

2016/07/22 My latest update. Maintenance supervisor says he evacuated system and serviced it. He says he did this Wednesday. Odd thing. I was home all day and the Property manager gave me a heads up that he would be doing the work that morning and I didn't see anyone that day around the condenser in question.

I was wondering if you would be kind enough to provide a list of equipment needed to perform this task. I know you have to have something to capture the old freon, right? And you need a pump to suction the system.

And if I recall it's usually a good practice to leave it in a vacuum to check if you have a change in your gauges over a two hour period which if you did meant you had a leak. Anyway. if you could do this, it'd be nice. Of course I would understand if that's not in your realm. I can research it and come up with the info. - Paul Murnane

Moderator reply: equipment needed to evacuate and then properly charge an HVACR refrigerant system

As we state at REFRIGERANT LEAK REPAIR, SAE J-2788, requires that

... all service equipment manufactured after December 31, 2007, must recover 95% of the refrigerant and recharge to within 1/2 ounce

To put a *measured* or "factory-specified" refrigerant charge into an HVACR system the system has to be evacuated - as you say. TO do that in compliance with current codes, the tech has to hook up a pump that removes refrigerant and pushes it into a storage cylinder (presumably for later recycling) as we no longer discharge refrigerant to the atmosphere.

In the old "destroy the earth" days we used to dump refrigerant to the atmosphere, run a vacuum to remove air from the system, possibly install a new filter-drier on the system to remove any remaining (and troublesome) moisture when the system was to return to operation, and then use a can of refrigerant and a charging cylinder to install the new measured charge.

Currently that job is typically handled by a wheeled kit that includes the vacuum pump, hoses, gas recovery and gas charging cylinders. It's not something that fits in someone's back pocket un-noticed. Below I copy in a typical example photo though there are both larger and smaller versions of this machine.

The pump is typically connected to the service fittings (Hi and Lo port connections) on the compressor/condenser unit outdoors.

Similar equipment is then used to place a measured charge into the system. Yes good procedure would be to leave a vacuum for 24 hours to check for leaks; not every tech might do that, however.

Watch out: Incidentally a second source of bubbling sounds heard in the refrigerant piping suction line near the compressor could be refrigerant oil pooling in that location. However for in your case a refrigerant oil pooling problem does not sound like the noise source that you have been describing.

More information on charging refrigerants in an air conditioner, heat pump, or other refrigeration equipment is

at REFRIGERANT CHARGING PROCEDURE

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Continue reading at UNDER CHARGED REFRIGERANT, EFFECTS or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

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