With springtime chugging along and summer just around the corner, homeowners throughout Peyton and beyond are looking forward to warmer temperatures and more time spent outside enjoying it. However, it’s important to remember that you want a nice, cool, comfortable home to come back to on those warm days. And if your AC system isn’t working as it should, this may not be what you get.
What if your air conditioner is operational, but it’s making some odd noises as it runs? Should you be concerned?
If you hear sounds that are outside of the usual day-to-day operational noises you typically hear your air conditioner making, then yes, you should probably be concerned. Keep reading as we reveal some odd noises you may hear come from your air conditioner if it’s in a state of disrepair.
Screeching or Squealing
Whatever you call this noise, it’s typically characterized by a high-pitched frequency, and can be pretty loud. This is most often a sign of a problem with one of your system’s motors. More specifically, it’s probably indicative of a motor bearing that’s becoming worn down. While this is a normal part of wear and tear, it still has to be remedied right away.
The reason for this is that worn motor bearings can cause too much friction on that motor, which can and will permanently damage it. Our technicians will lubricate or in some cases replace the bearings to save the motor and prevent further issues (such as the motor overheating and subsequently failing).
Grinding
This is another noise that could potentially be a sign of a motor issue. It is typically created by a motor that has accumulated too much dust, or lost too much lubrication. Just like the above-mentioned problem, this is a normal part of wear and tear (and a problem that can be addressed during your annual maintenance appointments, so be sure you’re scheduling those!)
The bottom line is that you don’t want to ignore this sound, as doing so could potentially lead to a much more serious problem with your cooling system.
Rattling
The first thing our technicians would ask you if you called about hearing a rattling noise coming from your air conditioner is, “Is it at all possible it’s your cabinet door on the indoor unit?” The good news is that if it is, this can be fixed with just a couple turns of a screwdriver. However, if you’ve already checked this to discover this isn’t what is causing the rattling, then you might have a more serious problem on your hands.
For example, you might be listening to a loose component within the system, or you could be listening to broken and damaged ductwork that is rattling every time air goes through it.
Hissing or Bubbling
Depending on where exactly in or on your system this noise is coming from, it may sound more like hissing or more like bubbling–if you have a refrigerant leak.
There’s a still fairly common misconception among homeowners that refrigerant is something that depletes, like gasoline done from a car. On the contrary, your cooling system is supplied with enough refrigerant upon manufacturing and if your system is losing refrigerant, it means there is a leak.
A refrigerant leak can cause a whole host of problems, and eventually cause your compressor to break down. To avoid this, give us a call as soon as you hear hissing or bubbling!
For professional AC repair in Peyton, CO contact Brown’s Heating & Cooling.