Do you remember the Jetsons cartoons? The futuristic family who had everything automated? They probably had an air conditioner that could talk to them and tell them when something was wrong, reporting back on what to do about it and how much longer their air conditioner would last with this problem.
While that’s not our current reality, and the Jetsons probably missed a lot of what would and will be possible this decade, your air conditioner does try to tell you when something is wrong. But it’s up to us to listen. Read on as we uncover some of the sounds your air conditioner might make when something is amiss, and then give us a call to fix it.
Shrieking
Have you noticed a rather loud, mechanical shrieking sound coming from your air conditioner? The most likely culprit to this is a motor problem. It might be as benign as a motor bearing that has worn down and needs lubrication. This isn’t an uncommon problem and it’s not that bad–it’s a natural part of wear and tear. However, it still needs to be fixed ASAP.
Worn down motor bearings create friction on the motor, and will permanently damage it. They could even cause the motor to overheat and therefore shut down your air conditioner completely.
Grinding
This is also a possible indicator of a motor problem. It’s usually caused by a motor that has accumulated too much dust, or has lost too much lubrication. Again, this is a normal part of wear and tear but still something you don’t want to ignore.
We will double-check your motor for cleanliness as well as lubrication during your professional AC maintenance appointment, but it’s a good idea to stay alert in case something goes awry between maintenance sessions.
Rattling
Rattling might actually be a really minor “problem.” It could be indicative of nothing more than a loose cabinet door. In fact, you might be able to fix it on your own with a few twists of a screwdriver–this is about the only DIY tip (aside from changing your air filter) we’ll ever give you!
Sometimes rattling can mean something more serious is happening though, like loose components being knocked around in the blower fan, or bent fan blades. It might even be that your air conditioner’s cabinet is coming loose from the slab, or that you have duct damage and this is where the noise is coming from.
Hissing
Don’t worry, there probably isn’t a snake or a cat up in your AC. A much more likely scenario is that you have a refrigerant leak. Refrigerant is the chemical substance that makes the whole cooling process possible. If you have a leak, it will eventually damage the compressor, and could cause your air conditioner to break down. Please don’t ignore this noise if you hear it! Give us a call.
Contact Hometown Heating and Air Conditioning for quality air conditioning services in Concord and beyond.