Air conditioners are supposed to make a low-level hum when in use, so you shouldn’t ignore it if it starts making a racket. In today’s post, Allison Air Conditioning takes a look at the common causes of such noises.
What Is Making All That Racket?
The noises coming from your air conditioner can be caused by one or more of the following:
- Dust and debris. Your air conditioner’s exterior unit houses the condenser, which has cooling coils that, along with the aluminum cooling fins, need airflow to expel heat gathered from your indoor spaces. Since the exterior unit is exposed to outdoor conditions, it may collect dust and debris over time, which can obstruct airflow and increase the AC workload, which may lead to premature wear that causes loud noises.
- Loose components. Air conditioners have several moving components that wear out and come loose and cause rattling or clanging noises. If it sounds like a component is rattling around the unit, it’s best to turn off your AC and have your air conditioning service technician inspect it.
- Old age. Your air conditioner may be well past its expected life span, which means signs of wear like loud noises will be more evident.
- Installation errors. Mistakes during installation that result in noises usually make themselves known during the first few weeks of use. A reputable AC technician should have workmanship coverage that would allow correcting such mistakes at no extra cost.
What Should You Do?
Before calling your HVAC technician, try to find the source of the noise, then look for signs that may further identify the cause. For example, a leaking refrigerant line does not make noises by itself, but it dramatically increases the workload on your AC, and therefore increases wear. You’re not expected to perform your own repairs, but finding out the cause can give you an idea of how much work will need to be done and the associated cost.
Call Allison for Your Air Conditioning Needs
Allison Air Conditioning is one of the most trusted HVAC companies serving communities in Corona, CA. If you need help with air conditioning and heating repair, give us a call at (951) 356-4224. You can also fill out our contact form to schedule an appointment.