Air conditioners are fairly quiet systems—at least in the last handful of years they’ve been manufactured to operate as quietly as possible, especially if you have an inverter drive central air conditioner. However, no cooling system will ever be silent—you’ll always hear the outdoor unit cycling on and off, and you’ll never miss the whoosh of air coming through your room vents.
There are, however, many sounds you don’t want to hear coming from your air conditioner, which indicates there’s something wrong with your AC and the problem won’t go away on its own. Be sure to contact our pros at the first sign of trouble. In the meantime, read on as we uncover some of the most common AC sounds we get called about, and be sure to schedule reliable repairs with our trusted team.
Thumping or Banging
If you hear something that resembles a thumping or banging noise coming from your outside unit, it’s likely a sign of trouble with the air conditioner’s compressor. It could be a problem with a connecting rod, or crankshaft for example. If you do hear these noises, the best thing you can do is turn off your air conditioner right away and give us a call.
Hissing or Bubbling
There’s a common misconception among homeowners that their refrigerant is something that depletes, like gasoline from a car, and must be refilled—or what those of us in the industry refer to as being recharged—on a regular basis. But the fact is, your air conditioner is supplied with enough refrigerant upon manufacturing to ideally last its entire lifespan.
So, if your system is losing refrigerant, it means it has a leak that must be repaired. And the most common way this is detected by homeowners is through a hissing or bubbling sound.
Buzzing
The most common reason for buzzing is a problem with the electrical wiring. It’s imperative that you not ignore this noise, and give us a call right away. Failure to manage this problem could lead to safety hazards and property damage from electrical fires.
Squealing or Screeching
These sounds can be quite alarming, particularly when amplified through your HVAC system’s ductwork. And they are certainly sounds that should never be ignored. They typically indicate lose or failing belts in the interior unit of your air conditioner, or a fan that could be out of balance.
Clanging or Grinding
These two sounds typically indicate a problem with the fans—either the motors are wearing out or the oiled ball bearings are losing lubrication. Either way, you’ll need a professional HVAC technician to do an assessment and help you decide the next best course of action.
Have You Scheduled AC Maintenance Yet?
This service is typically recommended in early spring, before you need your air conditioning system the most. The best way to prevent the majority of AC repair needs—really, up to 85% of your air conditioner’s repair needs can be avoided—is with regular tune-ups. Contact us today to learn more!
For expert St. Augustine air conditioning services, contact Climate Masters! Serving St. Johns County since 1988 with quality, hometown service.
