You’re probably familiar with the typical sounds of an air conditioner that’s running properly: the gentle hum of the fan and the blowing of air through your ductwork and vents. But if those sounds are replaced by banging, hissing, grinding, or any other harsh noises, there’s probably something going wrong with your system. Today we’re going to talk about why your air conditioner might be making noise and how to interpret what those noises mean!
Air conditioner’s outdoor unit making noise
Let’s start with your air conditioner’s outdoor unit. If you hear a sudden loud banging or rattling, it’s possible that a twig or some other kind of debris fell into the unit and was hit by the fan inside. If you can see the debris, shut the power off to your unit and remove it. If not, contact Jerry Kelly Heating & Air Conditioning so that we can get inside the unit and remove the debris before it causes any damage.
Another sound you might hear from your outdoor unit is a buzzing noise. This is often the sign of an electrical issue with one of your unit’s components like the contactor. Electrical issues should only be handled by a trained professional.
Finally, if you hear a hissing noise near the copper tubing coming from your outdoor unit, you might have a refrigerant leak. This should be taken care of by Jerry Kelly Heating & Air Conditioning as soon as possible because it will force your air conditioner to operate inefficiently and is bad for the environment.
Air conditioner’s indoor unit making noise
Now let’s turn to the indoor portion of your air conditioner. If you hear a loud grinding sound inside your home, there could be a problem (such as lack of lubrication) with your air conditioner’s motor or one of its moving parts. This should be taken care of by a professional.
If you hear a rattling sound from your air conditioner, your unit likely has a loose screw or belt that is allowing some of its parts to move around and rattle against each other. Contact Jerry Kelly Heating & Air Conditioning so that we can inspect your unit and tighten any loose parts.
Finally, a hissing sound can also be heard from inside your home. If the hissing sounds like it’s coming from inside your vents, you likely leak somewhere in your ductwork that will need to be sealed up.
Avoid air conditioner noises with annual tune ups
Almost all of the problems that we listed above can be avoided by scheduling an annual tune-up with Jerry Kelly Heating & Air Conditioning. During your tune-up, we’ll check every one of your air conditioner’s components and ensure that it is running properly and noise-free.
If you have any questions about why your air conditioner is making noise, or if you’d like a cooling system serviced or installed in your home, contact [companmy_name], your St. Charles air conditioning contractor. We service the St. Louis area, including towns like Clarkson Valley, Clayton, and Cottleville.
photo credit: Quinn.Anya via photopin cc
