just installed my a018-10kr and it’s making a loud gurgling or water sloshing noise, is that normal?

Diagnosis

The gurgling or sloshing sound you are hearing in your JHS A018-10KR is caused by the internal condensate management system. As the unit cools the air, it pulls moisture out of the room, which collects in a bottom reservoir. To avoid requiring you to manually drain the unit every few hours, this model utilizes a "Slinger Fan" or self-evaporation system. This system uses a pump or a rotating blade on the condenser fan to pick up the collected water and spray it directly onto the hot condenser coils. The specific "gurgling" noise occurs when the water level reaches a certain threshold and the pump activates to move the liquid from the tray to the coils, where it is then evaporated and blown out through the exhaust hose. You can confirm this is normal operation if the sound is intermittent, lasts for 2 to 5 minutes, and is followed by a slight increase in the airflow sound from the rear of the unit. In high-humidity environments, this cycle will occur more frequently because the unit is extracting more gallons of water per hour from your air.

How to Fix It

Because this is a designed feature of the self-evaporation system, there is no mechanical "fix" to eliminate the sound entirely. However, you can optimize the unit's operation to minimize the frequency and intensity of the sloshing:

1. Check the Exhaust Hose: Ensure your exhaust hose is as short and straight as possible. If the hose has a steep upward slope or a kink, the evaporated moisture can condense inside the hose and flow back into the unit, causing the reservoir to fill faster and the pump to run more often.
2. Level the Chassis: Place a bubble level on top of the unit. The A018-10KR must be perfectly level or tilted slightly (less than 2 degrees) toward the rear drain plug. If the unit leans forward, water will pool away from the slinger fan, causing the pump to struggle and create a louder, air-sucking gurgling sound.
3. Manage Room Humidity: If you are running the unit in "Cool" mode in a room with open windows or high humidity, the condensate will build up rapidly. Closing all windows and doors will reduce the moisture load, thereby reducing the frequency of the pump cycles.
4. Verify Venting: Ensure the exhaust vent is not obstructed. If the hot air cannot escape efficiently, the condenser coils stay cooler, which slows down the evaporation process and forces the pump to work harder to move the standing water.

If That Didn't Work

If the noise is constant (not intermittent), sounds like a loud grinding, or is accompanied by a leak from the bottom of the chassis, try these alternatives:

• Manual Drain Flush: Unplug the unit and place a shallow pan under the rear drain plug. Remove the plug and allow all standing water to drain completely. Sometimes a buildup of dust and slime (biofilm) in the reservoir can obstruct the pump intake, causing it to make a louder "chugging" noise. Flushing the tray can clear this debris.
• Check for "P2" or "FL" Error Codes: If the sloshing is accompanied by an "FL" (Full) or "P2" error on the digital display, the self-evaporation system is overwhelmed. This means the humidity is too high for the slinger fan to keep up. You must manually drain the unit via the bottom plug to reset the sensor.
• Inspect the Air Filter: A clogged air filter restricts airflow over the evaporator coils. This can lead to excessive frosting and then rapid melting, which dumps a large volume of water into the tray all at once, triggering a loud and prolonged pump cycle. Wash the filter with warm soapy water and dry it completely.
• Verify Hose Diameter: Ensure you are using the original JHS exhaust hose. Using a third-party hose with a smaller diameter increases backpressure, which can affect the temperature of the condenser and hinder the evaporation of the sloshed water.

Heads Up

• Winter Storage: Before storing the unit for the season, always perform a full manual drain. Leaving water in the reservoir can lead to mold growth and permanent odors in the plastic chassis.
• Avoid Tilting: Never tilt the unit on its side or back while it is running or immediately after it has been turned off; this can cause condensate water to leak into the electrical control board.
• Drain Hose Option: If the gurgling noise is intolerable or you live in an extremely humid climate, you can bypass the pump by attaching a continuous-drain hose to the rear port, allowing water to flow via gravity into a bucket or floor drain.
• Filter Maintenance: Clean the intake filters every two weeks during peak summer use to ensure the self-evaporation system operates at maximum efficiency.