Air conditioners can make certain sounds while they function. You might have noticed the gentle clicking sound when the system turns on and starts cooling your home. Or maybe you’re familiar with the whir of fan blades sending cooled air through the vents in your room. These are all perfectly normal sounds that signify the system is working fine.
However, sounds are one of the earliest signs that something is not right. Anything apart from the normal sounds of operations (the clicking and the whirring) should perk your ears up and make you think about air conditioning repair in Glenrosa, BC.
While any sounds can signify a problem, we want to cover some common noises that you might recognize. If any of the following sounds seem familiar, be sure to call our team for support.
Common Sounds That Signal Repair Needs
Let’s get right to the point. These sounds we’re going to talk about are big red flags and each one can require a different kind of support. No matter how slight or abrupt they are, if you hear them, you’ll want to at least hire a licensed HVAC technician to take a look at the system and troubleshoot it for problems.
- Rattling or clanging. If you were to put a tiny screw in a box and shake it around, it would probably sound like “rattling.” This sound indicates that some small component in your air conditioner is either loose or broken and it’s jingling around inside the unit. Clanging is this sound but louder and usually due to a larger component that’s broken or loose. In truth, while this might not seem like a big issue, the broken part can bump into a sensitive component in your air conditioner and cause serious damage over time.
- Hissing or bubbling. If you spring a refrigerant leak in your air conditioner, it’s likely to make this sound. The hissing is the sound of refrigerant in its gaseous form sneaking out of the line, while the bubbling is the sound of oxygen bubbles from the atmosphere sneaking into the refrigerant line.
- Shrieking. A shrieking or screaming air conditioner is one that requires immediate repair. Don’t hesitate to shut the system off when it does this and while you await for a fix. This can be numerous different problems, from a failing compressor to a broken blower fan, but none of them are good and all of them require fast repairs.
- Grinding. Your air conditioner’s compressor, the most important component, has pistons that it uses to compress the air inside of the system. Grinding could be a sign that these components are worn down and starting to deteriorate. Grinding can also be a sign that your blower motor’s bearings are running into problems.
- Buzzing. Buzzing usually signifies an electrical issue that needs to be repaired, otherwise your system could fail to start or shut down properly.
- Squealing. If your blower fan motor has a belt that’s worn down, it might start squealing as it runs. This means it’s only a matter of time before the blower fan breaks down entirely.
- Constant clicking. If you’re hearing more than just a couple clicks when the system turns on or off, then you’re likely dealing with a failed capacitor that’s constantly clicking. This component needs to be repaired or replaced ASAP.
We guarantee your comfort with every job we do. Schedule an appointment today with Comfort Tech Heating & Cooling.