Did you know that summertime is the most likely season for air conditioners to develop problems? This is because they’re placed under a lot more stress than, say, in fall or spring. After all, you’ll be using yours every day for at least 3 months straight, and this added wear and tear makes it more likely for various components to break down. You might hear ominous AC noises that should definitely signal that it’s time for your AC to be serviced.
It’s essential that you have your air conditioner checked out by a trained and experienced professional if you detect any signs that it is malfunctioning in any way. Keep reading to learn more about one of the biggest signs that something is amiss: scary or unfamiliar sounds coming from the air conditioner.
Grinding
Is your air conditioner making a grinding noise as it operates? This is probably due to an issue with your air handler. The air handler motor is comprised of a number of oiled bearings to help keep friction as low as possible during operation.
Over the years, these bearings start to wear down, and cause friction on the air handler motor to slowly increase. Once this friction gets too high, the air handler motor will begin making a grinding noise. If you hear this, please call us for repairs ASAP! The bearings will need to be replaced before the air handler motor overheats and burns out.
Hissing
If your cooling system is making a noise that resembles the air being let out of a tire, what you’re probably hearing is air bubbles in the refrigerant line—signaling that you have a leak in the line. The lower the refrigerant level is in your air conditioner, the lower the air conditioner’s output capacity will drop as a result.
Eventually, the refrigerant level in your cooling system will drop so low that it will be forced to shut down. Be sure to call for repairs as soon as you notice any fluid dripping from your system or if you detect the aforementioned hissing noise.
Short-Cycling
The scary thing about short-cycling is that it sounds no different than the normal shutting off and turning on of the compressor of your air conditioner. But the actual sound isn’t what you’re listening for. You’re listening for how often your air conditioner cycles on and off. If it’s doing so every couple of minutes, this is called short-cycling.
This problem can be the result of a number of different things, such as electrical issues or compressor malfunctions. Regardless of the source, however, what’s more important is the threat it poses to your air conditioner. The system cuts down on the AC system’s ability to cool the home, but also accelerates the rate at which the system wears out. Prolonged short cycling will make the system more prone to breaking down, and shorten its lifespan by a number of years. Be sure to call for repairs as soon as you notice your system short-cycling.
When you need expert AC repair in Denver, CO, look no further than Aurora Plumbing Company. We have someone in your neighborhood today!
