Temperatures around our parts may not be as consistently high throughout the year as other parts of the country, but that doesn’t mean we don’t get our fair share of long, sweltering summers. As such, the use of an air conditioner on a daily basis is an absolute must, and of course, that air conditioner must work flawlessly.

Of course, the only way to make sure this is the case is to schedule routine maintenance. Maintenance tune-ups should be performed on your air conditioner once a year, or twice a year if you’re utilizing a heat pump. Without this level of care, you can find yourself in frequent need of air conditioning repair in Aurora, CO as well as potential premature system replacement.

But what if you did have maintenance done, and yet you’re hearing strange sounds coming from your cooling system? This is less likely to happen following maintenance, but still possible. So what should you listen for, and when should you call in a pro?

Short-Cycling

This is one of the most apparent signs that something is amiss with your air conditioning system. When a system is short-cycling, you’ll hear your compressor turning on and off every couple of minutes. This is a problem for a couple reasons. To start, it cuts down on your air conditioner’s ability to circulate cooled air.

Secondly, short-cycling increases the wear and tear that your system has to deal with overall. Prolonged short cycling causes components of your AC system to wear down faster, and fail faster, than they normally would. If this problem continues without being remedied, it can shorten the lifespan of the unit.

There are a few possible causes of short-cycling. It can be caused by poor installation, first off (in the case it was too large for your home). If this is the case, though, you’ll notice short-cycling immediately following installation. Otherwise, you’re likely dealing with something like a clogged air filter or a malfunctioning component in the compressor.

Grinding

A grinding sound coming from your cooling system is most likely a sign of an air handler issue. The air handler is the component of your AC responsible for circulating air throughout the home. Moving that much air generates a good deal of friction, therefore the air handler motor contains lubricated bearings to help it run more smoothly.

However, these bearings wear down over time. This causes the friction on the system to increase, until you hear the sounds of metal-on-metal grinding. If you do hear a grinding sound coming from your air conditioner, reach out to our professionals for repairs ASAP.

Hissing

Hissing sounds are very often an indication that you have air bubbles in the refrigerant line of your cooling system. This means you have a leak, which is a much more serious problem than you might realize. Your air conditioner relies on a certain amount (called a charge) of refrigerant in order to function as it should.

An untreated leak will deplete your system’s refrigerant supply, causing a significant decline in output. Eventually, your air conditioner will stop working altogether—this is a serious issue that should not be ignored.

When you need reliable air conditioning repairs, look no further than Aurora Plumbing Company. We have someone in your neighborhood today!