Air conditioning problems come in many forms, some of which are easy to spot, and some not so much. We recommend that you have a professional conduct maintenance on your air conditioner every year, so you know that itbs ready for the added strain of the summer season. Preventive maintenance is not a guarantee, though.
There is still a chance that you can have problems come up with your system between appointments, which is why you need to be sure to keep an eye out for signs that your air conditioning system is in trouble. One of the most common ways to tell if your air conditioner is in trouble is to listen for odd noises coming from the system.

Hissing

If your air conditioner is making sounds like the air being let out of a tire, or perhaps gurgling noises like bubbles being sucked through a straw, then you very likely have a refrigerant leak. Those noises are being made by the air bubbles that are forming in the line. Your air conditioner relies on recycling its charge of refrigerant, and normally never needs a refill. Unfortunately, as a leak causes the level of fluid in the air conditioner to drop lower, it will become less and less able to properly cool the home. This can and will lead to a full breakdown if not dealt with, so you should call a technician as soon as you notice it happening to your system.

Grinding

Grinding is the result of the bearings in your air handler wearing down, more often than not. These bearings are located in the air handler motor, and are designed to keep the friction on the system as low as possible. As the bearings wear out, the friction on the air handler motor gets higher and higher until it eventually will overheat and burn out. You should call for repairs if you hear this noise coming from your system, so that the bearings can be replaced before that happens.

Short Cycling

Short cycling is when your air conditioner turns itself on and off every few minutes instead of completing a full cycle. This is usually caused by an electrical problem, and presents multiple threats to the system. First, an air conditioner canbt cool properly if it is not allowed to complete a full cooling cycle. Second, the constant on/off cycling puts a lot more stress on the air conditioner than it is designed to cope with. The longer an air conditioner short cycles, the more likely it will become to break down from the strain. If your air conditioner is short cycling, you should have a technician check it out for you as soon as possible.

Comfort Central, Inc. provides a full range of Asheville, NC air conditioning repair & maintenance services. If you need help restoring your air conditioner to proper function, contact us today to schedule an appointment with one of our professionals. We can make sure that your air conditioner stays in good shape throughout the summer season. B