3 Things That Can Cause Your AC To Make Odd Noises
Your AC condenser should sound the same all the time when it's running. If you hear new or louder-than-usual noises, it could be a sign of a malfunction somewhere. You should probably call an AC repair company to find the issue before your AC breaks down. Here are possible reasons your air conditioner is noisier than usual.
1. Something Is Loose
Rattling or scraping noises might mean something is loose. Notice if a panel is vibrating and making noise when the AC kicks on. If so, the problem might be a loose screw that you can tighten yourself.
A loose fan blade might be a problem too. If the blade works loose, it might be unbalanced and wobbly. It could scrape the side of the metal panel and make noise. A loose fan blade might stress the motor and cause it to burn out, so you'll want an AC repair technician to tighten the blade and look for damage to see if it needs to be replaced.
2. A Part Is Going Bad
If the contactor, capacitor, fan motor, or compressor starts to go bad, they could be noisy. They can make different noises depending on the problem, but if you hear a new noise coming from the AC, you should let a repair technician know even if you don't know what the noise is or where the noise is coming from. The contactor and capacitor are small parts that send power through the condenser, so if they wear out and break down, your AC may not run. These parts can be replaced easily by the technician.
A fan motor is a little more difficult to reach and service since the fan has to be taken apart, but if the motor is bad or the bearings inside of it are bad, the AC repair technician needs to put a new motor in. Dealing with a bad compressor is the most complex repair of all. This is an expensive part that might still be under warranty, so you'll want to check.
A compressor is usually replaced rather than repaired when it's bad. Since it's an expensive part, you'll want to make sure replacing the compressor is the right move if your AC is old. Replacing the entire condenser is an alternative option to consider.
3. There's A Power Problem
The AC condenser draws power from the electrical panel through the disconnect box. The box has a couple of fuses in it. If a fuse goes bad, your AC might make a humming noise as it struggles to start but can't get started due to a lack of enough power. The technician can pull out the bad fuse and put in a new one for a quick and easy repair.
To find out more, contact AC repair services.