Is Your Air Conditioner Faulty? What Is it Trying to Tell You?
When an air conditioning unit is working, it will emit a satisfying "hum." Sometimes, however, things will go wrong, and the system may give you an early warning by sounding off in other ways. Maybe you can tell what is amiss with your A/C by the noise emanating from the equipment and this may help you give your appliance repair specialist some valuable information, as they prepare to help you. So, do your ears deceive you or is there an issue right now?
Engineers include technology within A/C machines to dampen any excessive mechanical noise, so the project works efficiently, while being unobtrusive. Any noise has a story attached and this could lead to a costly repair if not addressed in time.
Clicking
For example, if you can hear a steady "clicking" sound when the system cranks into operation, this could be due to a faulty control mechanism that's affecting its ability to regulate temperature.
Buzzing
The normal hum may have escalated into a "buzzing" noise and you could trace this to several threats. The system may have lost refrigerant and be about to freeze, or there could be a blockage in the filter. The fan motor could come loose, or the fan blades could be out of balance. It's also possible that a foreign object has found its way into the system and is grating against the fan or other internal components.
Squealing
If the fan or blower emits a high-pitched and consistent squealing noise, one or both could be on its way out. You may hear this noise when the system switches itself on, but it should go away after.
Screaming
While some noises can be subtle, others can be very alarming. If you hear a high-pitched scream, then you should jump into action and turn the A/C off as soon as possible. The compressor could be about to blow as it's built up an excessive amount of pressure, or the system could be devoid of refrigerant. Either one of these issues could cause lasting damage although some systems are configured to turn everything off when this happens. These products have a built-in sensor to protect the equipment and the people in the vicinity.
What Does it Sound Like?
You may have to give your best impression of the noise when you talk with the engineer on the phone, but this may allow them to decipher the issue before they arrive.