As we wind down from the summer season, it’s important to make sure that your air conditioner is in good shape before you turn it off for the rest of the year. If your system has any problems, you’re going to want to have them dealt with now, rather than at the start of the next summer season. There are many indications that your air conditioning system might be struggling, but the easiest to identify are often strange noises coming from the unit. Let’s go over some common unusual noises below, and the problems they indicate.
Grinding
If you hear a grinding sound coming from your air conditioner while it’s on, you probably have a problem with your air handler. The air handler is the part of the air conditioner that circulates air throughout the home. Without it, the air conditioner won’t be able to move air through itself to cool it. Inside the air handler motor are a number of oiled bearings, designed to keep the friction on the system as low as possible. As the bearings wear out, the friction on the air handler motor continues to increase. A grinding sound coming from the air handler means the part needs to have the bearings in it replaced. If this doesn’t happen quickly enough, the air handler motor will burn out and need to be replaced.
Hissing
If your air conditioner is making a sound like a tire with the air being let out of it, you probably have a refrigerant leak. That sound is being made by the air bubbles forming in the new space being made in the refrigerant line. Your system relies on recycling its refrigerant supply back and forth to cool the home. The lower the refrigerant level drops in the system, the lower the air conditioner’s output will drop as well. If enough refrigerant leaks out of the system, it will eventually break down. Make sure that you call a professional to examine your air conditioner before that happens.
Short Cycling
Short cycling is when your air conditioner turns itself on and off every few minutes, rather than completing a full cooling cycle. This is bad for a number of reasons, not least because it prevents your system from cooling your home properly. The bigger issue, though is that it increases the amount of wear and tear your system suffers in a short period of time. The longer the air conditioner short cycles, the more prone to developing other problems it will become. If you don’t want to have to replace your air conditioner early, it’s a good idea to call for repairs as soon as you hear your system doing it.
Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling offers comprehensive air conditioning services in Doylestown, PA. If you need help repairing your air conditioner, contact us today to schedule an appointment with one of our professional technicians. No matter what shape your air conditioner is in now, we’ll make sure that it finishes the summer in great shape.