Jan 17, 2018 05:05 AM
18294 Views
(Updated Jan 18, 2018 12:37 PM)
9 Months ago I bought a Panasonic 3.5KW Inverter Model Number: CU RE12PKR. One of the major reasons for the purchase was that the model has a claimed 22 DB indoor sound pressure on the quiet mode.(see: https://panasonic.com/au/support/product-archives/air-conditioning-ventilation/e
conavi-reverse-cycle-inverter/cs-cu-z12rkr.html).
Thinking I was becoming an old grouch I put up with the A.C. but found that I was avoiding using it especially at night because it was very noisy.
The advertised quiet cooling mode for the CU RE12PKR is19 DB.
19 DB is between the noise made by a pin dropping and rustling leaves but what I was hearing seemed much louder.
So I got a sound meter and found that at times I was getting 22 DB but a lot of the time I get 30 DB and at times just under 50 DB on the quiet cooling mode. Further adding to my discomfort is the pitch of the 30 - 50db sound which is best characterized as whistling. This sound comes and goes and seems to be quite random. It can last for less than a minute or up to 10 minutes.
After having the Installer/technician look at the machine he said he couldn't say what was wrong and suggested that I ring Panasonic's support line(132 600).
What followed was like something out of a comedy sketch. I was told that I would need to get another technician to look at the unit. If the unit was found to be faulty they would pay for the inspection but if it wasn't faulty then I would have to pay. I asked what amount that would be and got the reply "I can't tell you that. Nobody in this office can tell you that." I then said: So you are going to open me up to a cost, but you can't tell me the amount?" The response was: "Nobody in this office can tell you the amount." I then asked seeing that the unit was much louder than the specs suggested wasn't this proof that the unit is faulty. Response was "I can't answer that."
The "service" guy then gave me the number of their preferred AC technician and said I must ring them.
This level of service is just so low compared to the other AC companies I have interacted with over the years and with over 20 units across 4 houses I have had other interactions.
It appears that if you value a quiet night you need a near "silent white" and Panasonic might not be for you.
Listed below are the AC units I have found to be good at the top and poor at the bottom:
Mitsubishi Heavy Industry: I have found these to be excellent, powerful and trouble free. I just bought another one.
Westinghouse
Daikin
Ayre
Panasonic
