Your air conditioner should work with minimal sounds, especially if you have a split unit. However, if the sounds become excessively loud, something tells you there’s something wrong with the system. In this article, let’s discuss some of the most typical noises and determine why they happen.
Marsh Heating and Air Conditioning is your trusted HVAC company in Bloomington MN. We are AC specialists who can help you rid of that annoying sound coming from your cooling system and restore peace in your living space.
A Hissing Noise
When there’s a continuous hissing sound like gas escaping from your AC, it actually sends a warning, telling you there’s a leak somewhere in the system. Leaks along the copper lines cause your air conditioner to let off refrigerant, which is a serious problem. When the system loses refrigerant charge, not only does it cause the coils to freeze, but it can also damage the compressor which may lead to hefty repair costs.
Another cause of a hissing sound could be an internal valve leak, especially the compressor valve. This valve controls the pressurization of the refrigerant and needs to be repaired as soon as possible.
In addition, a hissing air conditioner could be telling you that the compressor itself is faulty because the pressure inside it is too high. The compressor is easily the most expensive part of the AC to repair, which means you’re likely better off replacing the entire unit instead.
Keep in mind that if you’re hearing recurrent hissing sounds that last for a few seconds, it’s likely just the expansion valve. However, if the sound is constant, you need to have a qualified technician find out what’s the problem and fix it.
A Screeching Noise
Perhaps one of the most annoying sounds coming off of your AC is a screech. This sound can be caused by different factors, including a malfunctioning fan motor in the outdoor condenser unit. The central air conditioning system connected to your home has a fan that is engineered to remove heat from the refrigerant. If your AC is making a shrieking noise, it tells you there is an ongoing issue with the fan motor. This sound may also be caused by a broken motor in the compressor of the condenser unit.
A screeching or squealing noise may also be caused by a defective blower fan motor inside your house. The blower fan is designed to gather warm air from each room of your home. Once the blower fan motor is running, the hot and humid air throughout your home will be collected by your return ducts and sent to your air conditioning system. Then, the cold air from your system will be distributed throughout your house by the blower fan.
You may also notice a shrieking sound near the HVAC system in your house due to faulty bearings in your fan motor. Moreover, a malfunctioning fan belt may also be the root cause of this noise. If you hear this loud noise from your AC, turn the unit off as soon as possible and contact your trusted AC specialist.
A Buzzing Noise
When your AC makes a buzzing sound, there are several reasons why it does so, one of which is a faulty compressor. As mentioned earlier, the compressor is responsible for pressurizing and cooling the refrigerant in the unit. A buzzing sound informs you that there’s a problem with the compressor or that the electrical voltage flowing through the outdoor unit is not at its proper amperage.
Your compressor is placed at the base of the air conditioner and sits on small rubber feet, also known as isolation feet. Since it is runs nearly non-stop, the rubber on the isolation feet can crack or get damaged, causing the compressor to become unstable. This causes it to create a buzzing noise while running.
If you notice your AC is not able to properly cool your home and has a buzzing sound at the same time, this could mean that the AC has frozen coils. This is a result of refrigerant leaks and can cause a buzzing sound from your system. If this happens, turn off the unit and let the ice melt. After a few hours, it should be able to function again without issue. However, if it’s still buzzing, call a professional immediately.
Call Marsh Heating and Air Conditioning
When the sounds coming from your AC get a little too loud, give us a call and have it fixed before it further damages itself. As your trusted Richfield AC repair company, we’ll make sure the system gets fixed and works as it should.