Why My Air Conditioner Is So Noisy?

If your air conditioner is noisy, AC technicians recommend checking the quality of the noise first before identifying the source. If the pitch for example is unusually high, it can indicate a compressor glitch. If the sound is primarily rattling or clanking in nature, it can come from loose spares inside the unit. A more serious problem may be in store for you if there is a ‘hissing’ tone to the noise as the unit valves may have gotten affected in that case.

So, what is causing the noise in your AC? Well, the following can be the reasons. Read on.

Some noises are standard

Before starting to explain why your air conditioner is noisy, it is important to mention that several noises are perfectly customary for an AC to produce. These are –

• Sudden thumping noise when you start the AC on

• Buzzing sound when the fan starts up

• Sound of air flowing in and out of the duct

Noises that indicate problem

Screeching noise

Any screeching sound in any AC indicates that there is an underlying problem in the unit. It depends more on the kind of set-up that your model has actually.

• For a belt driven motor structured system, a screeching noise points towards a loosely affixed belt in the unit. A belt that is washed-out can also make a screeching sound when turning.

• For more recent models with direct-drive motors, this noise can come from worn out bearings.

In both cases, replacing the troubled part, i.e. the belt and/or the bearing by a trained technician will solve the problem.

Popping or Cracking noise

If your AC is emitting popping or cracking noises while running, or promptly after it shuts down, the problem lies in the air-ducts in all probability. This is usually caused when the duct inside expands and contracts due to internal temperature changes. This is common in tropical climates as warm air finds way into the air ducts at home and then cools. This is however not too grave a problem to worry too much about and can be easily rectified by making a tiny indentation in the duct surface to alter the levelness of it and cut back the sound.

Too loud or too frequent popping noises can however indicate that the air ducts need a clean-up. There might be blower problems as well. A D-I-Y job is not recommended here as professionals can do it the best.

Clanking noise

Clanking noise generally indicates:

• Loose hardware

• Blower problems

• Low oil-level in compressors

A technician is the best person to handle any of these issues.

Hissing noise

A hissing sound is by far the most dangerous sound to get emitted from an AC as it usually indicates excess pressure over the compressor or internal valve leakage. Both need expert maintenance at all levels.

In general, AC manufactures say that if your air conditioner is noisy it is best to call for a technician’s assistance. ACs are intricate electrical units and trying to quick-fix them on one’s own can be a dangerous idea if one is not trained to do it rightly.

Why My Air Conditioner Is Leaking Water

Air conditioners are of great importance to people, especially those who have to contend with hot weather conditions often through the year. You want them to function properly so that you get the best out of them and keep things cool in your surroundings. They also ensure that your surroundings are dehumidified, which makes a lot of difference. That’s why you want them to be functioning in the best possible way and you have to take any problems related to them seriously. It’s particularly true in case your air conditioner is leaking water because it can be a sign of much bigger problems.

There are many who go on using their air conditioners even when they leak water assuming that there’s no issue with their functioning at all. But that’s not the case in many instances and if your Air Conditioner Is Leaking Water you are better off getting it checked sooner rather than later. There are several reasons that it could be leaking water and the damages could be a lot worse if you don’t get the problem fixed at the earliest. It could well be that one of the components of your unit is malfunctioning, which is why the leakage appears in the first place.

In case your air conditioner is leaking water it could be because of one of the several reasons that include:

• Condensation leaks, which are commonly seen in the summer months when you use your unit almost constantly. You will notice water dripping from your air conditioner and it’s because the condensation is more than it should be. The evaporator coil in your unit is responsible for dehumidifying your surroundings and it does that by getting rid of condensation and adding dry air. It can happen that the condensation leaks through the air conditioner. While in some cases you can solve the problem by turning off the unit, if it keeps happening over and over again, you might need to seek help of a professional.

• If your air conditioner is leaking water it could also be because the air filter has been clogged due to dust or any other reason. It can restrict the air flow through the unit and the evaporator coil tends to freeze. That’s when the water leaks over the edge of the condensate pan. Regular cleaning of the filter can avoid this problem in most cases.

• Clogging of the drain pipe could also be the reason behind water leakage through the unit. Over time an increasing amount of dust in the air is drawn into the unit. It leads to the dust and water coming together forming sticky dirt that can clog the drain pipe. That will lead to the condensation leaking out.

• The insulation at the back of the unit is responsible for soaking up the condensation that is formed on the copper wire. As the insulation gets worn out over time, it can’t do this job well and can be responsible for the leak from the back of the unit.

If your air conditioner is leaking water it could be due to one of these varied reasons and in some cases help of a professional might be needed at the earliest.

Why My Air Conditioner Is Emitting A Foul Smell?

If your air conditioner is emitting a foul smell while running, it’s important that you get it identified and removed right away. More so if the unit is running in tropical climate, because sultry weather conditions are not exactly favorable circumstances for air-conditioning units to run if they are not used and serviced properly.

For AC users experiencing bad odor emissions from their units, the following can be the causes.

Is your AC too large for your room?

ACs need to fit in perfectly to the room size – not more, not less. For example if your room is not too large, a 1-1.5 ton AC would be big enough to cut back on the humidity levels and cool it down. But if your ACs cooling capacity is larger than what is required, it can make way for a musty smell to come across. This is because larger than required ACs are not able to perform the ‘latent cooling’ function properly (which accounts for 70% of an AC unit’s work), i.e. dehumidifying the air to the right extent, in spite of chilling down the air much quicker. Growth of mold spores and stale smell are normal thereafter.

So if you have a reasonably bigger unit in your home and experiencing a foul smell, it can well be because of its size. Call for a professional to check that. 600 SF/ton-800SF/ton is the standard requirement. For older set-ups 400SF/ton can be needed also. Anything larger than this must not however be installed without consulting a contractor.

Is the water drain clogged?

ACs which run for extended hours are often seen to emit foul smell because of clogged water drainage systems in them. In case of the drain being blocked with dirt and grime particles, the water stays back in the ‘condensate’ tray and with time this starts emitting a foul smell. In a tropical climate it is not unusual for bacteria and/or mold to grow within the condenser coil also, which on running the AC, spreads a rotten smell in the house.

Removing the AC cover and freshening up the tray and the drainage holes can solve this problem.

Is your AC being used properly?

Leading AC manufacturers are of the opinion that foul smell emissions can also occur if your air-conditioning unit is not being used properly. Running the AC on ‘Low’ constantly can be damaging for the indoor air quality for instance. This is because dehumidification will not be carried out to the right levels here also, resulting in mold growths and obnoxious odors thereafter.

As a remedial measure, put your AC on the ‘Fan’ mode for sometime so that any accumulated moisture in the vent system of the unit gets released and/or dried up.

In some cases water seepage into the pipes of a central AC, dirty air filters, engine fluid leakage and rotten dead animals in the system’s duct can also induce it to emit a stink. So if you find that your air conditioner is emitting a foul smell its time perhaps to call for the maintenance team to identify and amend it. Your house will start smelling fresh again.

What Are The Benefits Of Regular Air Conditioner Servicing

Air conditioner servicing is of great importance to all home and business owners alike. You might have air conditioners in your house for the comfort of your loved ones or in your offices so that you create a comfortable working environment for your team members. You might use them all through the year or in those hot summer months, regular servicing can save you a lot of hassle and costs in the long run as well. Unfortunately in a bid to save small servicing costs there are many who keep putting them off and end up bearing huge expenses at a later date.

It might seem like your air conditioner is functioning smoothly but the fact is it loses its efficiency year after year. Aircon servicing can ensure that the unit functions as close to its optimum as it’s possible. And thus you will not only save costs in the future, you will also be saving costs with your regular electricity bills. You can also ensure that it dehumidifies your house or office like it’s meant to. That’s the reason it’s recommended that you don’t wait till it shows some problems or starts making a noise to get its servicing done on a regular basis.

Some of the brilliant benefits of air conditioner servicing include:

• The fact that the efficiency of your unit, which is lost over time, is recovered. You rely on your air conditioners to offer you comfort in those hot and humid conditions and they will just do that for you when their servicing is done on a timely basis.

• You will also minimize the instances of breakdowns that can happen at the most inopportune times. If you run a store, you don’t want your customers to be inconvenienced; the same is true for clients coming to your office. Such instances are drastically reduced in case of well serviced machines.

• Air conditioner servicing also ensures that instances of major breakdowns are avoided to a great extent as well. These breakdowns can cost you dearly to fix and thus you will be saving yourself additional expenses in the future.

• Another reason why servicing of the unit should be done on time is because it reduces the running costs that are involved. You know air conditioners can cost substantial amounts to run simply because of the electricity that is used for their functioning. And the consumption of energy can be a lot higher in case the unit has not been serviced on time. Thus you will save yourself big amounts by keeping the operating costs as low as they can be.

• Air conditioners are looked at as a long term investment and you want to get good value for the money you spend on them. Hence their servicing on a regular basis is important because it improves the longevity of your unit.

Not carrying out air conditioner servicing on time is often the case of being penny wise and pound foolish, because the servicing costs are quite moderate and you don’t end up burning a hole in your pocket later.

Common Problems Affecting Air Conditioners

Anyone who has air conditioners at home or in their offices, find them absolutely indispensable. You have them installed to avoid any discomfort to your loved ones or staff members for that matter. And it’s particularly true in places known for hot and humid climate. You just can’t do without them, but the problem is that they are often used in conditions that make them worse for wear. The climatic conditions themselves make things difficult and there can be unwarranted breakdowns that can leave things in disarray for you.

But that’s not the end of the misery for many; some outages can be dealt with sooner rather than later. However, there are common problems that if not attended to on time can lead to much bigger problems. There are many who have had to bear huge expenses because small, common problems were not nipped at the bud at the right time. And that’s something you need to avoid as well by knowing more about the problems that can occur with air conditioners and identifying them at the earliest. Regular checkups and maintenance can save you a lot of trouble in the long run, which is what makes them almost imperative for you.

Some of the common problems that occur with air conditioners include:

• They can develop an issue related to turning off or on frequently. There are some units that turn off on their own on a regular basis and that can lead to a lot of nuisance for owners. You need to understand that this problem can be caused because of the compressor being worn out. In some instances it could also have to do with the fan not functioning to its optimum capacity.

• Refrigerant leaks are another commonly seen problem and it just cannot be solved by adding more of it to the unit. The leak has to be checked, fixed and tested by an expert. Only then can it be recharged with adequate amount of refrigerant. When the amount of refrigerant is as much as specified, your unit will function at its optimum. Moreover, you need to remember that these leaks are not good for the environment as well.

• Air conditioners will perform a lot worse than they are supposed to in case they are not maintained as they should be. The performance will get affected when the coil is dirty or the filters are clogged. At times like these it’s often seen that the compressor or the fan gives way, leading to a lot of hassle.

• The condenser failing is another commonly seen problem and it can actually lead to huge repair costs. It’s one of the most expensive repairs you might have to contend with and should be looked into closely.

• The sensor in the unit can fail as well but at times it could be something as simple as it being out of position. The same is true for electronic controls and it’s recommended that you pay attention to them from time to time.

Some of these problems with air conditioners can be fixed easily while others need detailed repairs and sooner the maintenance is carried out, better it is for their longevity.