Is that your air conditioner making that noise? Oh, dear. What are you going to do about it? Ignore it, you say? Hope it goes away? Don’t do that! Your air conditioner doesn’t have many ways to let you know that something is wrong. When it does make a strange noise, you really need to listen.
Getting AC repairs done as promptly as possible will prevent a minor issue from turning into a major one or even causing your air conditioner to break down completely. The noise you’re hearing is the first warning sign, so heed it!
What could it mean when your air conditioner makes a strange noise? What kind of repairs might you need? We’ve got some information for you.
Any Strange Sound Is Cause for Concern
Your air conditioner should always make the same couple of low, steady, consistent noises. You’ll hear the fan whirring. When a cooling cycle starts up, you’ll hear the compressor hum. That’s about it! Anything you hear that is new, sudden, or loud is enough reason to check in with a professional about whether you need air conditioning repair in Winnetka, IL.
Different Sounds Indicate Different Problems
The sounds your air conditioner should make was a very short list. The sounds you don’t want to hear your air conditioner making is a much longer list! Why? Because problems with various components can all make different noises. Here are some of the things you might hear and what they could indicate.
- Booming: A bang or boom when the compressor starts up is called hard starting. It may be that you need help with a capacitor, which is like a battery that supplies the extra oomph that the compressor needs to get going.
- Whistling: Whether it’s a seal in the air conditioner or it’s happening in your ductwork, a whistle is caused by air being forced through a small opening. That gap needs to be closed to keep your air pressure regulated and get your cool air properly distributed throughout your house.
- Clicking: Sometimes this is an extremely minor issue, like a very small, quiet rattle where a screw simply needs to be tightened. But because it can also be caused by electrical problems, which pose hazards like electrocution and electrical fire, it needs to be taken seriously. Have it checked out by a technician right away.
- Rattling: Chances are, this is that sort of minor issue that can be resolved by tightening a component into position. But that doesn’t mean it’s okay to delay getting repairs! You certainly don’t want whichever component is loose to come flying free, crash into something else, and cause damage to other components.
- Bubbling or Hissing: These sounds can be made by escaping refrigerant. This causes poor performance, inefficiency, and compressor strain, so it needs urgent attention. The damaged coil where refrigerant is leaking can be repaired and the refrigerant refilled.
Don’t delay! Get the AC repairs you need right away.
Contact ServiceMax with any questions about indoor air quality.