Over the years, you probably get pretty accustomed to the noises that your air conditioning system makes. Air conditioners aren’t meant to be distracting or overly loud, so for the most part these noises are familiar and don’t signal that anything is wrong.
However, when you do start experiencing air conditioner problems, usually the first sign is an odd noise or strange sound you aren’t familiar with. If you do hear a noise such as this, it’s imperative that you turn your system off to prevent damage and call in a professional HVAC technician. Below, we’ve covered some AC system noises that can indicate a problem with your system.
- Rattling: This type of sound is typically indicative of something coming loose inside your system. It could be a bolt, a piece of outside debris, or even a broken component rattling inside the unit’s housing. Besides being a nuisance, this type of problem can cause a serious amount of damage if the debris or broken part gets tangled up with other components.
- Buzzing: Electrical problems can often present themselves with a buzzing noise. Another common cause of this sound is a misaligned fan touching another component in the system. To prevent further damage, it’s important to get this looked into by a professional before trying to use your system again.
- Grinding: If components have become loose or dislodged inside your air conditioner, then they might be grinding against each other. This often occurs in the pump or fan motor, depending on what type of system you have.
- Banging in the Ducts: Ductwork noise is most often caused by leaks, breaches, or loose fittings. Other ductwork noises that indicate a problem can include whistles or hums.
- Dripping: If you hear dripping coming from your AC system, it could be caused by an issue with your condensate pan, leaks in the condensate line, or even leaking refrigerant exiting your system.
For air conditioning repairs in Chicago, IL, contact Shavitz Heating and Air Conditioning today!