With summer just around the corner, you will soon be using your air conditioner on a daily basis to keep comfortable. And as you start to use that system more often, it’s important that you be aware of any indications that the system isn’t functioning as it should. The added stress of summertime is typically a trigger for all types of AC system issues, either creating new problems or exacerbating existing ones.
But the faster you notice signs of a problem with your cooling system, the faster you can have them repaired, and the more damage you can potentially avoid. Bearing that in mind, we’ll go over one of the most frequent signs that something is amiss with your Nashville, TN HVAC system: strange and/or unfamiliar noises. Keep reading for examples of troubling sounds you might hear.
Grinding
Your AC system moves air throughout the home by way of an air handler, which is essentially a motor with a fan attached to it. The air handler has a number of oiled bearings inside it to help reduce friction on the motor while the system is operating. Moving that much air around creates a lot of strain on the system, understandably.
While these bearings do their job very effectively, they wear down over time. The more worn down your bearings get, the more friction on the air handler increases. If you hear a loud grinding noise coming from your cooling system while it’s running, it may mean that the bearings in the air handler are about to fail. You should have them replaced by a professional technician right away, or the air handler motor will overheat and burn out.
Hissing
Have you ever noticed a sound coming from your air conditioner that resembles the noise a tire makes when air is escaping or being let out? This is likely because there are air bubbles forming in your cooling system’s refrigerant line. This means you have a refrigerant leak.
Refrigerant leaks are a big deal—a serious threat to the health and functionality of your air conditioner. The lower the refrigerant level in your air conditioner drops, the lower the system’s output capacity will drop as well. Eventually, the refrigerant level can drop to the point that the AC system will break down entirely. Be sure to call for repairs before that happens!
Short Cycling
Is your air conditioner turning itself on and off every couple of minutes, rather than completing a full cooling cycle? This means that it’s short cycling. Short cycling negatively impacts your air conditioner’s output capacity, but it also increases the level of wear and tear the system accrues over time.
The longer your AC system is allowed to short cycle, the more likely it is to break down. The short cycling process may also shorten the lifespan of the air conditioner by a number of years if it goes unchecked. Be sure to call for repairs if you notice your system doing this.
At Covenant Heating and Cooling, we are dedicated to the promise of serving you. Contact us today!