Rattle and whir—an air conditioning system can really turn into a major piece of noise pollution, can’t it? If you dread having to turn on your AC because it sends a racket through your home and disturbs the summer peace, you may have to make a decision about replacing it.
Yes, sometimes you should replace an air conditioner that’s making a lot of noise. But a noisy operation isn’t an automatic reason to scrap an AC. Let’s go a bit deeper into the Case of the Loud Cooling System.
Noises often indicate a repair issue
If you only started hearing loud noise from the AC recently, the best step to dealing with it is to call for repair technicians. It may be that the air conditioner only needs to have a basic, targeted repair. In this case, the noise is a good indication that something has gone wrong with the system. For example, ugly screeching and grinding noises from an air conditioner often indicate motor bearings wearing out or a motor that is about to fail. There could be an extra strain on the blower fan, or the compressor is tight. After professionals fix the problem, the noise issue should also be fixed.
The aging air conditioner
Loud operation for an AC often means the system is coming to the end of its lifespan: multiple components are failing and general wear is making the air conditioner work harder, and therefore work noisier. Check on the system’s age when it starts to become a source of noise pollution. If the air conditioner is more than 15 years old, then we strongly recommend you have it replaced. At this age, the sounds from the AC are probably only one of many problems plaguing the system. You’re probably paying too much to keep it running, and repairs won’t be cost-effective compared to purchasing a new air conditioner.
The quieter new ACs
Air conditioning technology continues to improve each year, and current ACs run quieter than ever before. Today there are ACs on the market that only make 50–60 decibels of noise. That’s about as quiet as the sound of rainfall or an electric toothbrush. Scroll compressors, insulated compressors, variable-speed fans, and fans with noise-reducing blades contribute to lower the noise output of an air conditioner down to levels where it’s almost no longer noticeable. Ductless air conditioners also offer better sound control. If you have an old air conditioner, than almost any new system will run quieter than your current one did even when it was new.
Ask the HVAC professionals about a quieter air conditioner
The best way to get a solid answer on whether you need to repair or replace the clattering, grinding, groaning air conditioner in your house is to make a call to HVAC experts. For any Barksdale AFB HVAC service, you can count on us. We’ll see how to either quiet down that AC—or find a quiet AC to replace it.
When you need AC repair or need to install a new system, call on the Doctor of Home Comfort: Hall’s Heating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration.
