The time has finally come to turn on your air conditioner for the season — but as soon as you turn it on, you’re met with all kinds of noises it shouldn’t be making. It’s normal to experience some noises when starting up and shutting off your system, but the loud rattling, buzzing, screeching and squeaking noises are what you should be concerned about.
To find out what’s wrong with your unit, read these reasons your AC might be so loud, and then call the professionals at Specialized Mechanical for further help!
Dangerous AC Noises
It’s important to know what these dangerous noises mean and what they can potentially be doing to your AC unit. The noises listed below are all indicators of something that’s not working right in your system. It might not mean that it’s broken and needs repair just yet, but it will need it eventually if it’s not inspected and taken care of quickly.
Buzzing
Buzzing sounds are some of the most common sounds you’ll hear coming from your AC unit, and they can mean a few different things. This noise could be happening due to:
- Your outdoor unit isn’t level
- Debris such as leaves or sticks stuck in the outdoor unit
- Lines rubbing against each other
- Frozen unit
Buzzing sounds tend to be some of the noises that are hardest to diagnose yourself because they could be coming from a minor issue or a major repair. If you’re experiencing these buzzing noises, check if anything from the list above is happening, then call the professionals.
Hissing
A hissing noise is a major indicator of a refrigerant line leak. If you’re experiencing a refrigerant leak, the hissing noise you’re hearing is coming from the air or refrigerant leaking in its gas phase. Refrigerant plays an important role in an air conditioner’s ability to cool your home, so this leak needs fixing as soon as possible. Do NOT try to repair refrigent leaks yourself. Refrigerant is extremely hazardous to handle without the proper certifications and knowledge.
Rattling
The four most common reasons your air conditioning unit may be rattling is from:
- Something stuck in the outdoor unit
- A misaligned fan blade
- Loose parts
- A faulty motor
While the reasons for the rattling noise aren’t immediate threats to the well-being of your system, they can become worse and cause more damage over time. These issues can be the reason for other parts of your AC unit breaking down if they’re not addressed and fixed promptly.
Banging
Loud banging or clanking sounds are most likely coming from your AC compressor. Your compressor is the part of your system that circulates the coolant that cools the air. Banging noises need addressing immediately because they can cause a large amount of damage to your unit.
If the banging noises are coming from your compressor, you will most likely need to have your compressor replaced. Because an AC expert cannot access the inside without causing damage to the outer area of the unit, replacing is the better option. There is also a chance that the banging noise could be coming from a loose fan blade that’s banging into other parts. No matter what the cause might be, it needs addressing to avoid further damage.
Whistling or Squealing
When you’re experiencing a loud whistling or squealing noise coming from your system, you need to act fast. Shut off your air conditioner immediately and then call HVAC experts. These noises are likely coming from a refrigerant leak or high pressure within the compressor, which can be very dangerous and needs addressing as soon as possible.
AC Repair In Carlsbad
Now that you know why your AC is being so loud, it’s time to call the professionals at Specialized Mechanical for help. It’s bad enough having to go without a working air conditioner in the heat of the summer, but add a loud, unwanted noise to the mix, and you’ve got bad news.
Give us a call today or visit our website to learn more about our AC repair services. To find out what’s wrong with your unit, read these reasons your AC might be so loud and then call the professionals at Specialized Mechanical for further help!
