Hilary June 17, 2010 June 17, 2010 I have a Current 1/10hp chiller that is probably a couple of years old. It still chills fine, but whenever it switches on it makes an absolutely horrible screeching sound (it even scares the dogs, and since it's in my bedroom I LOVE it when it switches on in the middle of the night). It's a longshot, but before I spend $350 on a new one I wondered if anybody else has experienced this and, if so, what it took to fix it (if it even could be fixed)? As everybody who knows me is aware I am NOT mechanically-inclined, and haven't yet tried to pull it apart.
gmubeach June 17, 2010 June 17, 2010 Two things you can try disconnect it and back flush it with hot bath water and two clean the filters both are supposed to be done once a year in the owners manual it helped me:)
Hilary June 17, 2010 Author June 17, 2010 Thanks Troy! I clean the external filter about once a week (all of those bird feathers, you know). Is there also an internal filter? Guess I should read the manual, huh?
bbyatv June 17, 2010 June 17, 2010 I have a similar chiller and have had similar problems. I took mine apart and found that the fan was scraping against the plastic shroud that surrounds it. This fan starts spinning when ever the chiller is running to move air across the radiator. I just bent the fan blades back about 1/4" each and got them away from the shroud. It now starts up very quietly. Bruce I have a Current 1/10hp chiller that is probably a couple of years old. It still chills fine, but whenever it switches on it makes an absolutely horrible screeching sound (it even scares the dogs, and since it's in my bedroom I LOVE it when it switches on in the middle of the night). It's a longshot, but before I spend $350 on a new one I wondered if anybody else has experienced this and, if so, what it took to fix it (if it even could be fixed)? As everybody who knows me is aware I am NOT mechanically-inclined, and haven't yet tried to pull it apart.
Hilary June 17, 2010 Author June 17, 2010 Awesome Bruce - THAT I can handle. Think I'll unplug it tonight, flush it out and check the fan blades. MUCH better than having to buy a new one. Go WAMAS!
Charlie June 17, 2010 June 17, 2010 Hillary, It's ALWAYS a good idea to unplug something electrical before diving inside. Having worked in HVAC when I was younger, I know that the filters are always a good place to start when ever there are problems. Since you're also an avid aviarist, that would be where I would start.
Brian Ward June 17, 2010 June 17, 2010 My first guess was a belt or something else associated with the fan. I would start there - take the case off and listen for the exact location of the screech. From there you should be able to determine what's causing it.
daharley June 17, 2010 June 17, 2010 I have 0 experiance with aquarium chillers but I am in hvac and if there is a belt on it that is where I would look first
Coral Hind June 17, 2010 June 17, 2010 It does sound like the fan to me too. This unit does not have a fan belt but the fan may need some oil or even replaced. When it has been running for awhile does the compressor sweat at all? A little sweating on the insulating line is fine. Are you using a controller to turn it on/off or the unit's built in controller?
bbyatv June 17, 2010 June 17, 2010 True dat. I forgot. I also lubricated the fan hub when I was bending the blades back. Bruce It does sound like the fan to me too. This unit does not have a fan belt but the fan may need some oil or even replaced. When it has been running for awhile does the compressor sweat at all? A little sweating on the insulating line is fine. Are you using a controller to turn it on/off or the unit's built in controller?
Hilary June 18, 2010 Author June 18, 2010 It does sound like the fan to me too. This unit does not have a fan belt but the fan may need some oil or even replaced. When it has been running for awhile does the compressor sweat at all? A little sweating on the insulating line is fine. Are you using a controller to turn it on/off or the unit's built in controller? No sweating that I've noticed, and it's running off the unit's built in controller. I just took another look, and it's actually the Pacific Coast CL280. Took the cover off and the fan appears to be moving freely, though the manual does say in humid environments to oil every 2 months. Just need to figure out WHERE then, since the fan itself seems fine. And there it goes, screeching again......
Coral Hind June 18, 2010 June 18, 2010 No sweating that I've noticed, and it's running off the unit's built in controller. Not sweating is good. Can you tell if the sound is coming from the fan or the compressor?
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