Air conditioners are good to have. They provide a nice cool climate for the home. However, they can be expensive and if they aren’t maintained repairs can be costly. Scheduling routine maintenance can help keep the AC working efficiently and prolong its life.
The life expectancy of an AC can be up to 15 years. But only if it is taken care of. If it’s neglected it may not last less than five. AC’S always give off little signals letting the homeowner know that it needs to be checked.
Noises that Could Occur in a Troubled AC
One of those signals could be noise. The noises will vary from one type to another, below are a list of them:
- squealing
- rattling
- knocking sounds
- humming
- whistling
When there is a problem with the fan belt in the AC, it will normally produce a squealing noise. The noises may stop and begin at different times, in many cases they are not continuous. The belt most likely has tightened; became misaligned or is worn out. Regardless, the fan will continue to try to function, until it pops. The squealing will seize once the fan felt has been changed.
Rattling sounds coming from air conditioners are perhaps the most popular and complained about sound. Unlike squealing sounds, rattling is typically continuous. What’s causing it is usually screws that have fallen loose. Each time the AC is turned on, the screws or AC bolts will move around inside the AC making this loud rattling noise.
Older AC’s are prone to have parts fall loose. As the AC gets older and the parts begin to rust, they will fall loose. A home AC repair will be needed to get the equipment back on track, but only if the bolts and screws can be properly out back in place.
Running the AC with parts missing and floating around can cause tremendous damage to the AC. Not knowing which part has come loose is what’s so scary, the part could be a minor or a major piece. There will be no way to tell until a professional comes to open up the AC and examine it.
Knocking sounds can occur when there is a stick or other obstruction hitting the AC. Whereas humming could mean some sort of electrical problem or an issue with the compressor. The compressor may start off with a humming noise and if left unattended could result in a much worse condition.
Eventually the compressor will simply stop working. If the compressor stops working, it could be the motor. When it comes to humming issues, it could also be that some of the wiring in the AC has come loose. A home AC repair should easily fix this problem.
An air conditioner that is experiencing a whistling noise could be undergoing a low air return. When a very low amount of air is attempting to circulate through the vents it will very often produce a whistling sound. Low air return can be caused by different circumstances.
One of those circumstances could be dirty filters or vents that are blocked. Changing AC filters before they get too dirty can prevent this. If the filters are being changed after these noises are heard then they are being changed too late most likely.
Catching a minor AC issue early in its beginning stages can save the homeowner a few less headaches. If the problem is allowed to persist, that minor problem could turn into a major one. Staying on top of AC maintenance schedules is worth it.