If you’re watching this video, it’s probably because your AC is making some crazy noises
lately that you’re not used to.
Or you just moved into a house and the AC has never been used until now, and of course
now it’s making strange noises.
Of course, it is a machine, and machines make noise.
But why is this thing getting noisier and noisier every summer?
So, coming up next on Fox Family Heating, Air Conditioning and Solar, I wanted to share
some things I’ve seen out in the field working on other people’s AC systems that might
help you isolate where the noise is coming from and some possible reasons why your AC
is so loud.
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Your air conditioner is very likely on the side of your house.
For some people it’s on the roof.
And for obvious reasons, a roof mounted AC is definitely going to make some low consistent
vibration because its mounted to the roof joists, which are connected to the wall studs,
and the rest of the house.
So, for those of you with rooftop air conditioners or complete package units that are so common
here in California, that is something you may be stuck with as long as it’s up there.
Also, as I’m sure you already know, these are machines and machines make noise.
Typically, the older they get, the louder they get.
So, understanding that, let’s dive into some real issues you might be experiencing
on systems that aren’t 20 years or older.
I want to break this into two parts: Things you can fix yourself, and things you might
want to have a real HVAC technician look at.
Notice I said real technician, and not a person dressed like a technician who is just there
to sell you a new system.
These deceiving salesmen and saleswomen are only in it for the money and have no interest
in saving your system.
Remember, if the parts are available, and yours very likely are, or can at least be
retrofitted with correctly matched universal parts, it can be repaired.
You’re in charge.
Like I always say on this channel, your system is designed to last about 20 years before
you might start considering getting a newer system.
But, it’s really about where YOU want to put YOUR money and not the technician.
Here are some loud noises you’re probably not going to be able to fix yourself:
Loud Compressor Your AC that sits on the side of your house,
really only has a few parts in it that will make some crazy noises.
Inside the shell of that outdoor unit is a compressor, a fan motor, and an on/off switch
called a contactor.
The biggest part, the compressor, pumps the refrigerant through your system much like
your heart does the blood in your body.
This pumping requires two spiral plates to rotate in an elliptical motion; And sometimes
those plates (more commonly called scrolls) can chip or come out of alignment creating
the loudest, most awful noise you’ve ever heard.
Especially if it happens at night when you’re sleeping.
It’s a grinding noise or loud clacking noise that can not be missed.
It’s not like we can take the cover off and look inside to fix it either.
It’s a hermetically sealed part that can’t be opened by anyone.
If this noise can’t be fixed from outside the compressor, you will most likely agree
with your technician when they say they need to replace that part.
I personally remember a house in Coloma, CA that was doing this.
The loud noise never stopped for the customer as they ran their AC.
Heck it wasn’t even cooling the house either.
It was just running and running and running.
As we approached the unit that was completely on the other side of the house, it got louder
and louder.
After some testing, I noticed the compressor wasn’t pumping like it should, yet it was
still making this loud noise.
This was THE loudest air conditioner I have ever heard.
It was a 10-year-old Bryant AC, so we changed that compressor out, and the system ran fine
from there on out.
I’ve also come upon an AC where the compressor, one just like we were talking about wasn’t
out of alignment or broken, but internally had a part called a by-pass stuck open.
This created a loud squealing or screaming noise indicative of high pressures and high
heat inside that compressor.
Before replacing this part though, a technician should determine if the refrigerant pressures
within the system are adequate, as well as some other tests.
Whatever the solution, I just wanted you to be aware of some noises that this compressor
makes.
Fan Motor Another time we might have to replace the
part making the noise is on the condenser fan motor.
That’s the fan blade you’ve probably seen that spins on the top of your AC when its
running.
I’ve come out on a house before where this motor that spins the fan blade is making a
high-pitched whistling noise.
As I looked around the AC, my ears and eyes finally isolated the noise coming from this
motor.
Every AC fan motor has ball-bearings that help the motor shaft spin.
But these bearings are sealed and can’t be accessed to lubricate them, which would
likely solve the problem.
So, in this case, the motor has to be replaced if you want the loud noise to cease.
Finding the right motor can be tricky, so it’s probably best to let a qualified technician
do it.
Just putting a motor with the wrong speed setting will cause cooling issues you won’t
be happy with.
Contactor Your AC has an on/off switch called a contactor.
The thermostat inside your home tells it when to switch on and off by sending a low voltage
signal.
To plates come together at that very moment to allow the high voltage though to the parts
we were just talking about before: The compressor and the Fan Motor.
As the years go by, pitting caused by the high voltage arcs happening between those
two plates as they come together can get to a point where the two plates won’t come
together all the way creating a loud buzzing noise.
Not near as loud as that compressor I was telling you about earlier, but loud enough
to get your attention.
Getting into the electrical panel of an air conditioner can be pretty intimidating and
dangerous causing electrical shock, so let’s make sure a qualifies technician helps you
with this.
Once again, getting the wrong switch can lead to more expensive problems.
What you can do Now, here are some loud noises you are likely
able to isolate and fix yourself, but still, if you don’t feel comfortable doing it,
just call Fox Family Heating Air and Solar and our techs will be happy to fix this stuff
for you.
Make it level If your system starts making loud noises,
first make sure it’s level.
If the AC isn’t flat, oil inside the compressor might not be lubricating the way it should
be.
Just be careful not to bend the copper lines coming from the wall to the AC.
This will definitely strangle the refrigerant and cause more expensive problems.
Debris Next, sometimes sticks and leaves can block
the fan blade on top of the AC from spinning, which causes some strange noises with the
AC, so definitely go outside and at least check to see if any sticks or toys are prevent
the fan blade from spinning.
The damage may already be done to it, but you can at least try.
Rattling Fan Shroud Also, the fan blade is protected by a round
metal shroud that is there to allow warm air to flow out of it, but also protect people
from getting their fingers inside of the AC.
Sometimes this shroud starts rattling as the screws that hold it down start vibrating loose,
possibly creating a larger hole than the screws were initially sized for.
As the AC runs, the rattling can get pretty annoying.
This tends to happen on older systems.
The solution would be to install a little bit wider screws that could hold the shroud
down more securely.
This would fill the hole better and crate less noise.
Another trick we like to do is get these little rubber isolation pads and use them as shims
to help dampen the vibration between the shroud and the frame of the AC.
This can really help in reducing the vibration or rattling noise on your aging system.
Ways to prevent Preventive maintenance is key.
If Fox Family can get out to your system twice a year and do the necessary checks and clean
your system, we know we can make your system last longer.
A clean system is a healthy system.
But if you don’t want to hire us to do these checks for you, no problem.
Here are some things you can definitely do on your own to help your system out.
Changing your filters as needed.
I always say if your filter isn’t perfectly clean, it’s time to change it out.
The filters we buy at my house come with a cardboard trim around it with some white mesh
or fiberglass as the filter media.
They’re also the cheapest filter sold at the store.
They’re like $7 bucks for a 3-pack.
If that filter isn’t perfectly white, then I change it out.
And I’m not tied to it because we bought some expensive filter.
Some people buy these $20-dollar filters.
Its almost like they want to hang on to these filters as long as they can, even though they
are brown or gray in color now.
Eww!
That’s the air we are breathing!
That’s the air the children in the house are breathing.
This dirty, dead skin, pollen laden filter is now a contaminated breathing mask essentially
for your AC.
If that dirty filter were up against your mouth as you breathed in, you would definitely
change it.
So that’s what I compare it to.
Anyways, you get the picture.
And I’m sorry for getting too graphic there.
Another reason to change that filter is because super dirty filters can suffocate the compressor
which can cause burnouts, clogged evaporator coils, and other cooling problems.
If the air filter is too dirty, the evaporator coil can even form into a block of ice, really
causing some serious cooling issues, including loud screaming compressors that can circulate
refrigerant anymore.
Washing the AC outside unit every now and then would be nice too.
It doesn’t take much energy to do, and it doesn’t take any soapy solutions to do this
either.
But if that coil on the outside AC gets clogged like a dirty air filter does, high pressures
can occur in the refrigerant system causing loud squeaking noises to arise.
Please don’t use a pressure washer.
You’ll destroy the parts of the system that are crucial for air flow and heat transfer.
But you do want to use just enough pressure from the hose to start knocking off loose
dirt and small debris down to the ground.
Also try to focus on not bending any of the fins that surround the AC.
These are called the condenser coils.
If you flatten them, you will have created some crazy noises with your AC.
Well, I hope this has helped you understand where some of those strange, loud noises are
coming from on your air conditioner that sits outside.
If you have any questions or doubts that you can isolate the noise, let us know at Fox
Family Heating, Air and Solar.
We’d love to help keep your system running for a long time!
If this is your first time watching our channel, please click subscribe down here on the bottom
right.
And, if you click that little bell next to it, you’ll be notified of all our videos
as they come out.
Thanks so much for watching and we’ll see you on the next video!