It’s going to start to cool down soon in other parts of the country, and homeowners will begin to prepare their heaters for the winter ahead. But those of us here in the Fort Lauderdale area are still using AC systems on a pretty routine basis. That said, those AC systems go through a lot, accumulating wear and tear faster than AC systems in other parts of the country.
That wear and tear may present itself as loose components, causing banging noises within your system, or a dirty compressor, which will cause it to “hard-start” and create what sounds like a booming noise. These aren’t the only sounds to be concerned with when it comes to your air conditioner—and when you do hear any of the sounds we’re about to describe below, you’ll want to make sure you contact a pro for inspection right away.
Hissing or Bubbling
Depending on where it is in the line while your air conditioner is running, you may hear a hissing or bubbling sound (people have compared the sound to the last few bubbles of soda being sucks through a straw) if you have a refrigerant leak.
Refrigerant leaks are a much bigger deal than many people realize, because they deprive your cooling system of the fluid it needs in order to complete its main job of cooling your home. As the refrigerant charge (level) in your air conditioner drops, so too does the ability of the cooling system to actually cool. Eventually, the refrigerant charge drops so low that your AC will be unable to sustain operation and will break down as a result. Call our team for repairs as soon as possible if you hear this noise coming from the system!
Grinding
This problem has to do with the air handler’s motor. The air handler is the component of your cooling system that’s responsible for circulating air throughout your home while the system is running. The motor is put under immense strain while the system is working. To help it work, the system has a number of oiled bearings.
Eventually, however, these bearings wear down and the friction on the air handler motor increases. This can cause the motor to emit a grinding noise while the system is running. If you hear this sound, it’s time to call for repairs. These bearings will need to be replaced so your cooling system doesn’t overheat and burn out as a result.
Short-Cycling
Short-cycling is when your air conditioner turns itself on and off rapidly—every few minutes—instead of completing a full cooling cycle. It’s usually the result of an electrical problem in the system. Short-cycling prevents the air conditioner from providing sufficient cooling and also accelerates the rate at which the system wears down.
If the short-cycling goes on for too long, your AC system will be more and more likely to break down in other ways, which ultimately shortens its lifespan. If you hear your system short-cycling, the best thing you can do for it is give our pros a call.
When you need a trusted HVAC contractor in Fort Lauderdale, FL, look no further than Envirotech Air Quality Services. Contact us today!
