When your cooling system operates quietly and efficiently, you’ll not only consume less energy and save money, but also stay comfortable inside your home when temperatures start to rise. Unusual noises, however, as any qualified air conditioning contractor will tell you, are cause for concern. If your AC system is conspicuously clamorous, it may be in distress, but with a bit of preventative maintenance, you can head off typical problems before they worsen. Here’s what you should know.

What Are Some Noises That Indicate Your AC Needs Maintenance?

1. Continuous Screeching

A continually present high-pitched screech probably means the fan belt is lose or worn. If so, the squealing will be loud enough to disturb your neighbors and anyone indoors. Prolonged screeching may also mean the fan motor is failing. If your unit is belt-driven—newer models often aren’t—an air conditioning contractor will investigate the cause of the noise and replace either the belt or motor if warranted.

2. Buzzing

Don’t put off a service call if your AC is buzzing. Electrical problems with a circuit breaker, the fan motor, or the wiring usually cause AC units to buzz. However, because of fire risk and life-threatening injuries from shock, it’s best to leave them to experienced service technicians.

3. Rattling

If the condenser unit outside rattles when in operation, a piece inside the motor assembly—a washer, bolt, or cap, for example—may be loose or disengaged. A rattling component can collide with other important parts within your unit, and cause further damages. Turn off your AC and wait until a professional has replaced or resecured the component.

4. Hissing

If your air conditioner hisses, there may be a leak in the lines that carry refrigerant between components. Inhaling refrigerant fumes is harmful to human health, and emitting a refrigerant’s fluoride compounds into the atmosphere is damaging to the environment. If you suspect a leak, call for service. After an air conditioning contractor finds the leak and repairs it, they’ll return your AC’s refrigerant levels to normal.

Don’t get caught without air conditioning when it’s hot and sticky outside. If your unit isn’t working the way it should or is making strange noises, contact the air conditioning contractors at Air Control Company in Lexington, KY. Since 1971, they’ve delivered reliable and cost-effective installations and repairs to residential, commercial, and industrial clients. Visit them online to review their tips for efficient and trouble-free AC operation, or call (859) 253-1734 to make an appointment for a maintenance check or air conditioning repair.