An air conditioner will always make noise. But the sounds you hear should be consistent and identifiable. The compressor will come on with a hum at the start of the cooling cycle. The fan will whir. There shouldn’t be any loud, surprising, or alarming noise coming from your AC unit. If your air conditioner is making a grinding noise, do not ignore it! Repairs are necessary. Here’s why.
Likely Causes of a Grinding Noise
Some people describe this as the sound of metal on metal. Chances are, it is either multiple metal components grinding against each other, or the broken pieces of one metal component grinding together. If the sound is coming from your outdoor unit, valves or pistons wearing down is the most common culprit, though it could also be the condenser fan or the motor that powers it. If the sound is coming from your indoor unit, it’s probably the motor that powers the blower fan. This motor contains ball bearings which should be well-lubricated, and lack of lubrication can lead to grinding. It could also be a broken fan blade scraping against the housing.
Prompt Repair Minimizes Problems
When you first notice a problem with your air conditioner, you should always take it seriously. Allowing it to continue operating while it’s experiencing a significant issue can lead to much more extensive repairs being needed. In this case, if the problem is damage to the blower fan blade, pieces could dislodge and wreak havoc with other components. If it’s a lack of lubrication in the bearings of the blower fan motor, the friction can cause the motor to overheat and potentially burn out. Instead of simply adding lubrication, your technician will have to replace the whole motor. And if the problem is located in the outdoor unit, any overheating or dislodged components could permanently damage the compressor, which is the single most expensive component in the system.
Maintenance Matters
When you have annual maintenance done, loose components are tightened, electrical components are tested, dust and grime are cleaned away to decrease friction and promote airflow, and moving parts are thoroughly lubricated. Having this done every single year will dramatically decrease the likelihood of alarming grinding sounds coming from your air conditioner. In fact, it will dramatically decrease your chances of needing any sort of repairs in the coming year—by 85%! It will also improve the efficiency and effectiveness of your air conditioner, and even help extend the lifespan of the system. So once you’ve gotten the AC repair in San Antonio, TX that you need now, make sure to keep your air conditioner happy and healthy for as long as possible by scheduling regular maintenance every year.
Whether you want to address an immediate repair need, schedule routine maintenance, or ask any other questions that you have about your air conditioner, we’re always glad to help.
At Thayer Air Conditioning, your comfort is our #1 priority! Contact us today.
