Photo By Africa Studio at Shutterstock

Modern-day air conditioners are designed to run quietly. You want to ensure that your air conditioner stays running quietly, and avoid the need for AC repair. Today’s energy-efficient AC units have sound dampening technology incorporated into their design. Their two-stage compressors feature variable speeds which keep the sound below an amazing 55 decibels. This keeps your Chattanooga, TN neighbors happy along with helping to ensure you get a good night’s sleep. Your unit might be noisy if your air conditioner features an A/C blower motor. If your unit is keeping you up at all hours of the night you might want to look into AC unit replacement with an AC unit that features a brushless D/C variable speed motor. A brushless D/C variable speed motor has the same RPM as an A/C blower motor, yet runs much quieter. So if you have a noisy AC unit it might just be a poorly designed unit. Your local AC repair company can advise you if your unit is broken or just poorly designed as far as noise levels go.

If you happen to start hearing loud and unexplained noises from your air conditioner it usually means you are in need of AC repair. You should take notice of any strange sounds that your AC unit starts to make, as your AC unit was not designed to make these noises, and these noises often signal the need for a repair. These noises might only signal the need for a simple AC tune-up but they could signal the need for a repair or worse yet replacement of the entire unit itself. The quicker you can identify the cause of the strange noises you hear and the sooner you call in a repair expert the better off you will be in resolving your air conditioner problems and quite possibly avoid the need to replace the entire unit. It is best to tackle AC unit problems while they are small issues rather than waiting until the entire unit breaks down beyond all repairs.

Why Is My Air Conditioner So Loud?

Your outdoor unit will be loud when the unit is running. That part of running an air conditioner is unavoidable. Yet the indoor part of your air conditioning system should be relatively silent aside from the slight humming sound that you should hear when the unit starts to cycle. If your air conditioner starts to make strange noises you will need to figure out what the noises mean and where the noises are coming from if you want to have an AC repair done in your home.

If strange sounds are coming from inside your home, such as your ductwork or your vents you may have a blockage that is affecting your airflow. When air is trying to flow freely but can’t you may notice strange sounds coming from your ductwork. All manner of things can block your vents from pet dander, dust to small animals. If you suspect that your vents or ducks are obstructed you should call your local air conditioning repair company to have your ventilation system checked thoroughly.

Noises Your AC Makes and What They Might Mean?

Let’s examine the strange noises customers might hear coming from their air conditioners. Here are some of the most common sounds customers of Metro Plumbing, Heating, and Air have reported.

Banging

If you are hearing a loud banging noise from your AC unit it is usually a signal that something is either broken or loose within your air conditioner. Oftentimes this will be either the crankshaft, connecting rod, or the piston pin inside of the air compressor. There is also the possibility that your indoor blower is unbalanced. Rarely units with this sound may need their compressor replaced. If you hear a banging noise coming from your unit it is a sure sign you are in need of a repair.

Clanking

If you are hearing a clanking sound it is likely that you are dealing with a loose part. Oftentimes this is due to the compressor becoming loose or an out of balance part in the sealed AC unit. Another cause of clanking noises is when the indoor blower or the outdoor fan blades go out of balance and start to hit other parts of the unit. If you hear this noise you will need a local Chattanooga, TN AC repair shop.

Clicking

You should only hear a clicking noise when the unit starts or stops, you should not hear a constant clicking noise as the air conditioner runs. Oftentimes a clicking sound signals a failing thermostat. It can also signify defective control or be due to an electrical issue inside of your unit. If you hear this sound you want to make that call to your local AC repair shop.

Buzzing

This is one of the more complicated sounds that signal trouble with your air conditioner as it can mean so many different things. Buzzing can signify loose parts but it can also mean something as simple as debris inside of the unit. Buzzing can be caused by your outdoor fan motor being loose or your fan blades being out of balance. Your lines could be vibrating against other parts of the unit or your condenser may need to be cleaned. Oftentimes this noise can be avoided simply by having an AC tune-up performed every year as a tune-up finds many of these issues before it becomes a problem needing AC repair.

Screaming

This is one sound you do not want to hear coming from your AC unit under any circumstances. If you hear this sound coming from your AC unit we advise you to turn the unit off right away and call the professionals at Metro Plumbing, Heating and Air of today for AC repair. If you fail to turn off the unit you risk further damaging your AC unit. A screaming noise can be dangerous as it often signals a refrigerant leak or high internal pressure within the AC unit’s air compressor. Call for help right away if you hear this sound.

If you hear any of the above sounds do not hesitate to call the professionals at Metro Plumbing, Heating and Air of Chattanooga, TN. We have vast experience with AC repair and can help you get your unit back up and running in tip-top shape and back at peak performance in no time. We are open 24 hours per day, 7 days a week for your convenience. If you have any questions regarding sounds that your air conditioner is making simply give us a call, we are more than happy to help you!