It’s a hot summer weekend day in Ohio. You know the type: it’s extremely humid, temperatures in the 90’s, hardly any wind blowing (until the thunderstorms arrive in the afternoon or evening).
Your chores are done. It’s time to go inside to enjoy the comforts of your home’s air conditioning, to relax, read a book, or even listen to music. Unfortunately, your air conditioner is rather loud and you need to turn up the music or talk loudly in order to have a conversation?
You ask yourself, why is my air conditioner so loud? Here are a few tips.
Reasons Why Your Air Conditioner May Be Loud
If your air conditioner is loud there is a problem that that you should not ignore. Usually you can get a clue about what is wrong by listening to the type of noise and where it is coming from. Don’t ignore your noisy air conditioner in central Ohio because something is broken (or will be breaking soon). You know the deal: the longer you wait, the more you will pay to fix or replace your AC unit.
Noisy Air Conditioner Fans
When you have a rattling or harsh-sounding noise coming from your air conditioner, it is probably the fan. It may be loose or just needs to be cleaned. Sometimes just removing accumulated debris like organic material (leaves, accumulated grass, stray branches or shrubbery) is enough to give you a quiet air conditioner again.
If something is rattling because it’s loose, it may be as simple as tightening the screws on the condenser cover (the outdoor unit) to solve it. You can typically do this with a ¼” nut driver or screw driver. But, if you are not totally sure about what to do and how to do it, contact a professional air conditioning or HVAC service for help.
Check the blades to make sure they are straight as a bent blade may be hitting the inside of the air conditioning unit as it spins. Be careful when you handle a bent blade and call of help if you are not absolutely sure what to do. Unless you are skilled at home repairs, we recommend you do not remove the cover to your AC unit.
A Loud Air Conditioner Motor May Need Lubrication
If the motor in your air condition needs lubrication it will produce a grinding or humming noise. Many unsealed units can be lubricated (and should be on a regular basis) as the grinding or humming is something that will eventually destroy the motor!
If there are oil ports on the motor, applying SAE 10 oil may be all that you need to do to get rid of the noise and protect you air conditioner motor. Do this every year before the hot Columbus Ohio summer to protect an unsealed air conditioner motor. If your air conditioner has a sealed motor or you are not absolutely sure how to do this contact a professional air conditioning service.
Clogged Coil Fins, Loose Screws, and More Reasons for a Noisy Air Conditioner
Other common reasons for a noisy air conditioner that may be keeping you awake on a hot night in central Ohio include random loose screws and things like debris blocking the coil fins. These are often easy issues to fix, providing that you know what the problem is, precisely how to fix it, and are sure that there is nothing else wrong with the unit. Always, when you are not sure what is wrong with your air conditioner and don’t want it to get worse, call for professional air conditioning services.
Did we mention if you’re not absolutely sure what the problem is — you should call a licensed, certified professional AC contractor to check out your air conditioner? The small price you pay for a service call could literally save you thousands of dollars (in AC repairs and potential medical bills if you aren’t careful!).
About Dor-Mar Heating & Air Conditioning
In continuous operation since 1962, our expertise goes beyond just the mechanicals of your HVAC system. We’re pretty handy when it comes to ductwork and system-wide maintenance as well. For top-notch service keeping your home’s heating and cooling system clean and your family breathing clean, filtered air, contact Dor-Mar today.
Our team offers a wide array of routine maintenance and emergency services for your heating and cooling system, allowing your family to breathe fresh, safe, clean air and be comfortable year-round. We also offer a number of add-ons to your HVAC equipment that can improve your home’s IAQ, such as electrostatic air filters, whole-house humidifiers, duct cleaning, Ultraviolet-C lighting systems, and more.
Schedule an appointment for HVAC system troubleshooting or maintenance with us today by using our online contact form, or call one of our seven neighborhood offices listed below. We pride ourselves on our customer-focused service, and our reviews show it.
NEWARK 740.345.6639 • COLUMBUS 614.238.6689 • DUBLIN 614.545.8939 • REYNOLDSBURG 614.365.1579 • WESTERVILLE 614.381.1540 • GROVE CITY 614.595.3098 • ZANESVILLE 740.454.2420
Dor-Mar…Your Climate Hero!
*Please note: neither the Centers for Disease Control(CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO), nor the manufacturer of our UV-C Devices have officially announced whether UV-C kills the current strain of Corona Virus (COVID-19). We urge you to err on the side of caution until we have a definitive answer, and take other measures to prevent the acquisition or spread of this virus.
