Alvin, TX summers are usually aggressively muggy and long. High temperatures can often reach 91°F during this season and humidity levels can reach 99% in July. It’s probably best for Alvin residents to stay inside with an AC at this time.
However, being inside and cool can be a lot less comfortable if you have a noisy HVAC. The many sounds ACs make can be highly distracting and annoying. Luckily, many of the air conditioner problems that cause these noises are easily fixable.
Are you asking “Why is my air conditioner so loud” constantly? If so, read on. You’ll learn how to identify and fix problems that cause AC noise.
Identify the Noise First
Different irregular AC sounds indicate different AC problems. The moment that you notice an irregular sound, listen and identify what you hear. Then use the list below to connect your AC’s noise to its problem.
Humming
Many functional AC units make humming noises. What you need to listen for is any kind of humming that sounds different from the norm. When you hear this, you’re likely hearing a problem.
Irregular humming can happen because of loose wiring, refrigerant piping, or other parts in an AC unit. A malfunctioning compressor can also emit a humming noise. These may not be issues at the moment, but they could lead to greater issues in the future.
Whirring
Do you hear a sound like helicopter blades? If so, your indoor blower or outdoor unit may be having some trouble.
Whirring usually indicates bad bearings or faulty fans. Fans that spin at a bad angle can cause strange whirring noises. A torn or ripped belt may also cause a whirring sound, but this issue is rare.
Squealing
Squealing is a problem that you must deal with quickly. This sound may, but not always, indicate a severe problem. Your air conditioner could be having internal pressure issues that could cause great destruction in the future.
In less severe cases, you may just have a loose belt or damaged housing, or blower wheels. Still, you may want to get the problem taken care of as quickly as possible.
Banging or Clanking
Banging or clanking usually occurs when your air conditioner has a detached part. A variety of different internal AC parts can become like this. An AC technician that comes to your home may check the connecting rod, piston pin, crankshaft, etc.
In many cases, an AC technician can just replace the part. If the part is part of an important bigger component, that entire component may need to be replaced.
Rattling
You may hear rattling noises when a large amount of outdoor debris clogs up your system. But this sound can also tell you that your AC’s fans or some bolts and screws are becoming loose.
In most cases, replacing your air filter or cleaning your condenser coil can solve the issue. You should also check that all of the bolts and screws in the unit are tight and secure.
Clicking
Hearing clicking noises when your AC unit starts or stops is normal. It’s not normal to hear them while the unit is running.
Are you hearing frequent clicks or constant clicking? If so, your AC unit may have an electrical problem. These can cause problems that are more destructive over time, so you need to deal with them quickly.
Pulsating
Pulsating is a lot like humming in that a pulsating sound doesn’t necessarily indicate an issue. However, if the pulsating gets very loud, your AC unit may have a problem. For example, you shouldn’t hear pulsating from an outdoor unit inside your home.
Loud pulsating usually happens when there are loose parts inside your unit. This isn’t something that you should try to fix yourself by opening your AC and checking for any issues.
Buzzing
Unfortunately, it’s difficult to match a buzzing sound with a specific problem. This can point to several different problems that range in severity.
On the less severe side, you may just have loosened or damaged isolation feet. You may also just have debris blocking the inside or outside of the unit. Or maybe your consensus coil just needs cleaning.
In more severe situations, you may be dealing with fan motor issues or electrical compressor issues. Therefore, if you hear a buzzing noise, you may want to hire an AC technician to identify your issue and fix it.
Fix What You Can
In many situations, you may not need an AC technician to fix your noisy AC problems. You may be able to fix some issues yourself. The next time that you hear strange noises coming from your AC, try taking the following steps before calling an AC technician:
Clear Debris
Loose debris, such as dirt, rocks, etc., can be what’s causing your outdoor AC unit to make noise. Do what you can to clear the debris from this unit. However, you should never reach in too far.
Lubricate
You shouldn’t try to fix AC parts yourself, but lubricating them shouldn’t cause any issues. Apply some lubricating liquid to fans, motors, and belts to stop them from screaming.
Tighten screws
Tightening screws is also something you can do that should stop rattling. Doing this can also stop parts from coming loose and causing any issues. Just make sure that you tighten the screws properly and don’t strip them.
We’ll Answer the Question “Why Is My Air Conditioner So Loud?”
Now you know some of the reasons why your air conditioner could be making loud noises and some fixes that might help. However, it’s imperative that you don’t try to do too much on your own. You could end up breaking parts of your AC unit.
Instead, contact an AC technician who knows how to fix your noisy HVAC unit. We at Custom Air Systems can be that technician for you. We’ll find the answer to the question “Why is my air conditioner so loud?” and then fix your unit right up.
Schedule an appointment now by filling out the form on this page.
