When you live somewhere as consistently warm through the summer season as we do, it goes without saying that using your air conditioner on a daily basis is much needed. Since summer has officially begun and the peak of the hotter temperatures is still ahead, it’s important to keep an eye (and ear) out for any potential problems, especially since the need for AC repair in Lawrenceville typically rises this time of year.
So, what are some common signs that you’re even having problems with your air conditioning system? A blaring indication is strange and/or unfamiliar noises coming from said system. There are a few noises in particular that you never want to ignore, which we’ve highlighted below.
Short-Cycling
This is one of the most apparent signs that something is wrong with your air conditioning system. Short-cycling is the process in which your compressor turns on and off every couple of minutes. It’s a problem for a couple reasons. To start with, it cuts down significantly on the system’s ability to circulate cooled air.
Short-cycling also accelerates the level of wear and tear that your cooling system has to deal with overall. By allowing prolonged short-cycling to occur, components of your air conditioner wears down and may fail faster than it otherwise would. If you let the problem continue without repair, then you can shorten the lifespan of the system altogether.
If you notice short-cycling upon installation of your air conditioner, then we’re sorry to say it was not sized correctly for your home, and is too big. If that’s not the case and this is an older system, then you may simply have a clogged air filter. If changing the air filter doesn’t help, though, then it’s time to call in a pro.
Grinding
A grinding sound coming from your air conditioner likely indicates a problem with the air handler, which is the part of your cooling system that’s responsible for circulating air throughout the home. Moving that much air generates a good deal of friction, so the air handler motor has lubricated bearings to help it run more smoothly.
These bearings wear down over time, however, causing the friction on the system to increase. If you detect a grinding noise coming from your air conditioner, be sure to reach out to our pros for repairs as soon as possible. The bearings in your air handler motor must be replaced before they fail completely and cause the motor to burn out.
Hissing
A hissing sound coming from your AC can be a pretty ominous noise. Unfortunately, it does indicate a pretty serious issue—a refrigerant leak. There’s a common misconception among homeowners that refrigerant is something that needs to be refilled (recharged) anyway, each year. However, the fact of the matter is that if your air conditioner is losing refrigerant, it had a leak.
A refrigerant leak affects the entire performance of your air conditioner, and must be located and repaired to get your AC back up to speed.
For reliable air conditioning repairs,