Noises? In my AC?

With the cusp of summer upon us, now is a good time to start paying attention to your AC unit. Is everything running smoothly? Or can your house be cooler? A great system is only one component of a comfortable house, but keeping up to date on your AC maintenance can make the difference between a good or a great home environment. Now it’s time to think, when was the last time my AC was serviced? Wait, do I hear a noise? A noise is never a good sign for your unit, and here are some common HVAC noises and what they mean: 

• Banging Noise

  • A banging noise typically indicates that something is wrong with your compressor. A compressor distributes refrigerant to different parts of the AC unit to remove excess heat from your home. As your system ages, parts inside the compressor can become loose and those loose parts can detach and hit your compressor’s exterior frame. This can result in a banging or rattling noise, to fix this problem give us a call, and we can correctly diagnose the issue for you.

• Screeching Noise

  • While screeching can seem a little extreme, a strong, high-pitched noise can emit from your unit due to a malfunctioning fan motor. Your condenser contains a fan whose sole purpose is to remove heat from the aforementioned refrigerant. The sound may also be caused by a broken motor in the compressor of the condenser, or by a damaged blower fan motor residing in your house. If you hear a loud AC sound, immediately deactivate your unit and reach out to a trained professional.

• Humming Noises

  • A humming noise can be due to a defective contactor relay switch, this is designed to send signals to your condenser from the thermostat. While it may seem like a small electrical issue, in the long run it can put heavy strain on your unit.

• Buzzing Sounds

  • A buzzing noise can derive from a multitude of issues: loose or unbalanced fan blades which reside in your outside condenser, faulty outdoor motor, dirty condenser coils, loose components, obstruction near the copper lines connected to your AC unit, or most importantly, a refrigerant leak. Prepare for the summer season by listening to your air conditioner and ensuring everything sounds fine, and being up-to-date on scheduled maintenance. 

• Clicking Noises

  • A clicking noise can simply be a thermostat turning on or off, but perpetual clicking can be a sign of a malfunctioning thermostat. Removing and replacing a thermostat can lead to more electrical damage, and it is important to call a licensed contractor to do so for you.

• Hissing

  • A hissing noise can suggest moderate to severe damage to the air ducts that run through your house. It is important to have them checked as soon as possible if a hissing noise can be heard from any part of your unit.

To guarantee you’re prepared for summer, make sure to inspect your unit for any unusual noises and schedule maintenance as soon as possible. Better to be safe than hot.