Gas and Oil Home Heating Furnaces - Bryant Heat Pump

We had a Bryant Heat Pump (5 ton Model) installed in our new nome in October, 2001. We have been experiencing a loud sound when we are home in the evenings. It sounds like a high pressure air tank releasing its air, it last from 3-10 seconds. It is very loud, and is annoying to our neihbours behind us, who sleep with their window open. I usually happens 3-5 times from 6-11pm, I don't know if is happening during the day when we are not home. Our installer has been trying to fix it. Originally he said it was not supposed to do this, then he came back and said it was supposed to do this???? They have been working on this for 4 months and it is still making the noise. It is a more mild sound now, and not quite as frequent, maybe because it has also warmed up some. Is this something to expect from a Heat Pump??

sounds like a reversing valve or equalization problem. What have they done to it? Spilt or package unit? Does it still make the noise from 11pm till you leave in the morning? During the day when your home?

What you are hearing is the changeover valve reversing refrigerant flow. In other words, going into defrost while in the heat mode and most likely this is happening pprematurely because of a defective circuit board. Unless....... It has been cold up there and along with a high humidity, the defrost cycle is just doing what its supposed to do. Too, the board could be ok but the sensor is the culprit. The least possible cause could be a severe overcharge and the high pressure relief inside the compressor is popping off. This is doubtfull on your new Bryant but it has happened. Your unit is still under a factory and hopefully an installer warranty. If this has been going on for 4 months and your installer can't seem to correct the problem, I suggest you get in touch directly with Bryant customer seervice giving them all the facts and asking them for help to rectify the problem before the one year aniversery date. In normal operation of a heat pump, you will have occasional defrost periods depending on the outdoor temperature and humidity. This is automatically controled by a circuit board and the noise, at that time, is normal. Good luck.