Most
people expect their air conditioners to make some noise when it’s running. But
if a buzzing kind of sound persists even after your air conditioning shuts off,
it might be because a component isn’t working properly. Whether it’s a faulty
motor or an erratic electrical connection, it’s worth looking into. Otherwise,
your air conditioner might stop working altogether.
Contacting a professional technician is the best idea when your air conditioner is making noise, since they can quickly determine the source and start repairs. In the meantime, here’s some useful info about why your air conditioner might be noisy.
First, Find Where the Sound is Coming From
Tracing
the sound back to its source can help the technician find out the possible
causes. Your central air conditioning system consists of two units. The outdoor
unit vents the heat collected from your home and cools it down with the
refrigerant. This cooler air is sent to the indoor air handler, which ensures
the conditioned air is sent into the ductwork. If the noise you’re hearing
isn’t coming from either of these units, the problem can be somewhere inside
the ductwork itself.
If the sound is coming from the indoor unit: When noise is coming from the indoor unit, it
can often be because there’s something wrong with the blower motor. A faulty
electrical connection could cause the motor to produce a buzzing sound
regardless of if the air conditioner is running.
Sometimes,
however, the noise comes from your condensate pump. This component helps drain
excess moisture away from the rest of the AC system. It may continue to run
after a cooling cycle is over if there’s still moisture that needs to be taken
care of.
If the sound is coming from the outdoor unit: Just like the indoor unit, the outdoor unit
possesses a fan and motor. But instead of sending cool air into your ductwork,
this fan is used to dissipate the heat collected from indoors. A bad connection
could produce a similar buzzing sound, and since it’s outdoors, it might be a
while before you notice it.
The
outdoor unit also houses the relay switch, an important component for
controlling the voltage that enters the system. When this part makes a sound,
it might have failed and will have to be replaced.
There’s
always a chance that a screw has rattled loose or a piece of debris has gotten
stuck somewhere inside the system. This can happen to both the indoor and
outdoor unit, and will make a variety of noises depending on where the object
is lodged. If this is the source of the irritating sound, you shouldn’t hear it
for much longer after the AC shuts off. To make noise in the first place, it’d
need to be close enough to something that could cause it to rattle against the
unit housing.
These Noises Are Most Often Because of an
Electrical Problem
You
may have noticed that a lot of the possible causes of this unusual noise have
something to do with electrical components or the connections themselves. Since
most components won’t work without power, a malfunctioning electrical part is
the most likely reason you’ll hear something even when the air conditioner is
off. After your technician has found where the sound is coming from, they’ll
probably start checking components such as the relay switch and compressor, as
well as all connections.
Even
if you’ve found the source of your problem and think it’s a simple fix, it’s
best to let a licensed and insured professional resolve electrical problems.
Leave Electrical Problems to the Pros
If
your air conditioner’s electrical system is malfunctioning or damaged, calling
a professional is the right move. There are several reasons why:
- Electrical problems can be
hazardous: Service technicians have
the training, licenses and insurance for safe and effective resolutions to
electrical malfunctions.
- Improper repairs can end up
doing more damage: Even
if you think your DIY skills handled the problem, it may have ended up
doing more harm than good. Air conditioning systems are still complex
machinery, after all.
- Pros can spot other problems: Technicians with years of experience are more
likely to recognize when something else is plaguing your HVAC system. They
can handle it right there instead of letting the issue spread or worsen.
Other Common AC Noises
Getting
familiar with a few other noises that could come from your air conditioner is a
great idea. The next time something is wrong, you may be able to recognize it
quicker and call for professional service. A few other unusual noises include:
- Trickling or Hissing:
A leak is the most common culprit. Air leaks are inefficient but can be simple
to resolve. If the coolant is leaking, however, that may spell big trouble.
Components related to the refrigerant supply are expensive to fix and may end
up resulting in having to replace the air conditioner entirely.
- Clicking or Ticking:
When functioning normally, you’ll hear clicks as electrical components start up
and direct the air conditioning to run. When there’s an electrical problem,
these clicking sounds can happen at random.
- Clanging or Rattling:
These sounds are likely because of a loose screw or a piece of debris. But
sometimes it’s a piece of a more important component such as the compressor.
The compressor is airtight, so if something breaks off inside it, you may be
stuck with an unpleasant rattle until it’s fixed.
- If something doesn’t
sound right, don’t wait to see if it goes away on its own. The faster a
professional technician can start repairs, the quicker things can be resolved.
You’ll appreciate a quieter air conditioner and efficient cooling.
Request
an appointment with the HVAC pros at Brown’s Arctic Air today by giving us a
call at 352-728-4990.