3 AC Noises You Can’t Afford to Ignore in Fort Worth, TX

If your air conditioner starts making unfamiliar noises, you need to find the cause. Some noises aren’t a cause for concern, while others indicate a need for urgent repair. Here are three AC noises you should never ignore in your in Fort Worth, TX, home:

Banging AC Noises: Damaged Compressor

If your outdoor AC unit starts making banging noises, turn the system off immediately. One of the most common causes of the sound is a damaged compressor. Continuing to operate your air conditioner in that state could destroy the compressor completely, forcing you to replace your air conditioner.

If you hear banging noises coming from your indoor air conditioner unit, it also indicates a need for repair. Often, such noises result from an unbalanced blower motor or another somewhat benign issue. You should have the problem fixed right away, though, so it doesn’t progress to more serious damage.

Humming: Failing Capacitor or Capacitor Switch

Another noise you may hear from your outdoor unit is humming. When it happens, your air conditioner may appear to keep operating normally with a low hum. You might also notice a low hum if the fan in your outdoor AC unit stops rotating, but that’s easy to determine.

There are two typical causes of humming from an outdoor AC unit. One is a failing contactor switch, and the other is a failing capacitor. Replacing either is a minor repair, assuming you don’t ignore the problem for too long.

Hissing: Dangerous Refrigerant Leak

Finally, you should never ignore hissing sounds coming from your AC system. They typically result from refrigerant leaks. For that reason, hissing sounds may accompany a loss of cooling capacity that’s difficult to miss.

If you don’t address a refrigerant leak promptly, it can lead to severe compressor damage. Refrigerant, aside from its role in the cooling process, carries lubricant through the compressor. Loss of that lubricant can lead your compressor to overheat and destroy itself.

When your air conditioner starts making strange sounds, you need professional help. Contact Performance Heat and Air for an AC repair appointment immediately!

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