Spring is going to come to a close, and soon enough we’ll be using our air conditioners on a daily basis. When that time comes, your AC system will be put under a lot of stress and accumulate wear and tear quickly.
Of course, the best way to fend off wear and tear for as long as possible is with routine AC maintenance. Maintenance allows our technicians to thoroughly inspect, clean, and adjust the components that need it within your air conditioner. This helps the system work as efficiently and effectively as it should, for as long as it should.
Maintenance is key to keeping your cooling system in good shape, but repair needs can also crop up between maintenance visits, and for that reason it’s good to know the signs that something is amiss. One of the biggest signs of an AC problem is that it’s making strange or unfamiliar noises. What noises are we talking about, exactly? Read on to find out.
Gurgling or Hissing
Depending on what stage of the cooling process your air conditioner is in when you hear this noise, you might hear gurgling or hissing. This indicates that bubbles are somewhere in the refrigerant line, where they shouldn’t be. This is a sign that you have a refrigerant leak.
Many homeowners don’t realize why it’s a big deal to have a refrigerant leak. Unfortunately, they deprive your cooling system of the fluid it needs to actually cool your home. When you have a leak, the refrigerant level will drop to the point where your air conditioner simply can’t operate anymore, and the compressor will break down.
If you even think you detect a hissing or gurgling sound, it’s time to give us a call.
Grinding
If you hear grinding coming from your air conditioner, it might be a sign of a problem with the air handler—this is the indoor component of your central air conditioner that’s responsible for circulating air through the ductwork and into your home while the system is turned on. This air handler goes through a lot of strain while the system is running, and to help it cope there are a number of oiled bearings in place.
Eventually, as part of natural wear and tear, the bearings wear down and the friction on the air handler motor will increase. This can cause the motor to emit a grinding noise while the system is running. If you hear this noise, it’s time to give us a call for professional repairs! You’ll want to have the bearings replaced before your cooling system overheats and burns out.
Short-Cycling
Short-cycling is when your HVAC system rapidly turns on and off every few minutes instead of completing a full cooling cycle. This is usually the result of an electrical issue in the system, and it prevents your cooling system from providing enough cooling. Plus, it accelerates the rate at which your system accumulates wear and tear.
Contact AllTech Services, Inc. for professional AC repair in Gainesville, VA.