With the weather heating up, it’s important that you closely monitor your air conditioner for signs that it’s malfunctioning in any way. The more you rely on your system, the more likely it’s going to be to develop problems under the strain. If you can recognize those problems quickly, you’ll be able to address them before they get too far out of hand. One of the biggest warning signs that your system is in trouble is if it is making strange noises while it’s operating. Read on for some common air conditioner noises that indicate a problem with the system.
Grinding
The air handler is the part of the air conditioner that is responsible for circulating air throughout the home while the system is running. Inside the air handler motor are a number of bearings designed to reduce friction on the motor while the air handler is operating. These bearings wear down over time, though, and as they do the friction on the air handler motor will increase. Eventually, the system will start to make a grinding sound while it’s operating. If you hear this noise, you need to call for repairs immediately. If the bearings are not replaced in time, the air handler motor will overheat and burn out.
Hissing and Gurgling
These sounds tend to mean that there is a leak in your refrigerant line, allowing air bubbles to form in it. The air conditioner relies entirely on its refrigerant supply to cool the home properly. As the refrigerant supply is drained by the leak, the cooling capacity of the air conditioner will fall as well. At some point, the refrigerant level will drop so low that the air conditioner will break down entirely. Make sure you call for repairs before that happens.
Short Cycling
Short cycling is when the air conditioner turns itself on and off every few minutes instead of completing a full cooling cycle. This might happen because of an electrical issue, or because the system is dealing with a malfunctioning compressor. Either way, the consequences of short cycling are very bad for the air conditioner. Short cycling increases the rate at which the system wears down over time. The longer the air conditioner is allowed to short cycle, the more worn out it will become and the more likely it will be to break down in some way. Prolonged short cycling also shortens the lifespan of the air conditioner by a number of years. So make sure you have a professional take a look at your system as soon as you notice it doing this. The faster it gets repaired, the more damage is likely to be prevented.
Desert Suns Heating & Cooling Inc. offers a full range of air conditioning repair services in Albuquerque, NM. If your air conditioner is malfunctioning in any way, we can help you out. Contact us today to schedule an appointment with one of our expert air conditioning technicians. We’ll make sure that your air conditioner is restored to proper health.