It often happens that after several years of trouble-free use of the air conditioner, it suddenly starts to make an unpleasant noise. Agree, throwing away equipment just because of a slight crackle in the process is rather stupid, especially if it is a branded air conditioner.
Even such, at first glance, a harmless "symptom" can signal a serious malfunction that can cause the final breakdown of the climate equipment. To restore the normal operation of the equipment, it is important to accurately determine the causes of the noise of the air conditioner, and eliminate them in time.
Annoying noise can also occur due to improper installation, but in this case, the first signs of a malfunction will appear already in the first months after the start of operation. Further in the article, you will learn how to recognize the type of breakdown by the type of noise, and quickly fix it without the help of a wizard.
The content of the article:
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Why is the air conditioner noisy?
- Noise in the indoor unit
- Causes of outdoor unit noise
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Eliminate the causes of air conditioner noise
- Air conditioner filter dirty
- Freon leak from the system
- Short air conditioner cycle
- Conclusions and useful video on the topic
Why is the air conditioner noisy?
In the absence of regular service, the air conditioner begins to crackle and hum in the first years of its operation. In some cases, the air conditioner may knock even when it is turned off, which indicates problems with its installation.
You can determine the exact cause of the breakdown by the nature of the sound and the source of its distribution. All breakdowns are divided into two types - mechanical and electrical.
Even if you cannot fix the problem yourself, you just need to learn how to distinguish between the nature of the sound in order to correctly determine the type of breakdown and the cost of its elimination when calling masters
Mechanical failures are concentrated in the internal mechanisms of the device, while electrical failures have causes associated with electronic failure.
You can independently understand the causes of the buzzing of the air conditioner according to the following algorithm: when a noticeable noise appears, in first of all, it is necessary to determine which block is the source of unpleasant sounds, and only after that try to establish the nature noise.
Noise in the indoor unit
If a noticeable noise is observed when the air conditioner is turned on, accompanied by vibration, then the cause may be a malfunction of the impeller motor, or in the impeller itself. Also, a rumble during the operation of the fan may appear due to the formation of ice, for which its blades just cling.
The presence of a sufficiently strong low-frequency sound indicates a problem in the electrical part of the indoor unit inside the split system. In this case, we are talking about a transformer that starts to buzz right before it fails. This problem may arise due to loose fastening of the device.
The appearance of a low hiss may indicate a refrigerant leak from the system, but if the hiss increases, it is better to check the unit for clogging or kinking of the pipes
Sometimes the air conditioner hums even when it is turned off, which is more typical for devices manufactured by Chinese companies. Such a low-frequency sound does not in the least interfere with a night's sleep, and it is not at all a sign of a breakdown.
Causes of outdoor unit noise
Failure of the outdoor unit may occur due to mechanical damage. For example, it may be interference from third parties if the air conditioner is installed on the 1st or 2nd floor. Also, icicles falling from the roof directly onto the outdoor unit can damage the equipment.
Over time, the heat exchanger of the outdoor unit may become contaminated with poplar fluff, insects and road dust. As a result of such contamination, the equipment begins to hum loudly, which indicates a violation of the heat exchange process and a strong overload of the compressor.
Also, noticeable noise in the system can be observed with arbitrary unwinding of the bolts. This situation may occur due to the strong vibration of the outdoor unit, which ultimately leads to loosening of the metal bracket.
The absence of vibration dampers on the outdoor unit mounts can lead to a strong hum and vibration, which is a consequence of the contact of anchor bolts recessed in the wall at a great depth with reinforcement plates
If the air conditioner began to make noticeable noise almost immediately after its installation, then the reason may be its improper installation. In this case, the problem concerns non-compliance with the requirements for choosing the location and length of the cooling system pipeline.
Eliminate the causes of air conditioner noise
For better clarity, we will give several examples of breakdowns accompanied by specific sounds, and also consider the most effective ways to eliminate them. In this case, we will talk about the most common mistakes in the care of equipment, which are very expensive for users.
It should be remembered that independent repair of climate equipment possible only for minor faults. If you understand that you cannot fix the breakdown on your own, then it is better to seek help from a qualified specialist. It will still be cheaper than buying a new split system.
Air conditioner filter dirty
When the internal filter is dirty, not only is the normal air circulation inside the system disturbed, but general malfunctions of the air conditioner can also occur.
This causes ice to build up in the copper pipes, causing the air conditioner to hum loudly and constantly dripping water.
It is recommended to wash the filter about once every three weeks, while it is important to completely remove all contaminants without using a brush or brush, as they can damage the structure
To completely clean the system of dirt, it is necessary to rinse the filters under running water, and only after drying put them back. Otherwise, due to regular failures in the system, the air conditioner may finally break down.
Freon leak from the system
Even with regular maintenance of the air conditioner, freon leakage can occur. The normal leakage rate is 2-3% per year, which is approximately 150 grams.
Recommended about every three years refueling the unit. This will allow not only to remove the noise of the air conditioner as quickly as possible, but also to increase the level of freon in the system to the required value.
In some cases, leakage rates may exceed the established norms, which is indicated by the formation of ice and frost on copper pipes and a characteristic hissing noise. Ignoring the problem will lead to rapid wear of the main parts of the device.
Short air conditioner cycle
Quite often, a situation arises in which the device turns off after 15-20 minutes of continuous operation. The reasons for its occurrence can be both an elementary failure in the settings, and a breakdown of the control board or thermostat.
However, the most common cause is considered to be contamination of the external radiator.
The result of radiator contamination is overheating of the entire system, which as a result leads to a complete cessation of the operation of climate control equipment.
You can solve the problem of radiator contamination by flushing the radiator with a strong pressure of water. A short operation of the air conditioner can also be associated with an excess of refrigerant in the system. So, you will need to measure the working pressure in the compressor, and only if the air conditioner is overloaded with freon, it is necessary to drain the excess fluid.
The best thing you can do is to carry out all the necessary procedures in a timely manner to maintain the normal operation of the device, which will prevent its premature failure.
In other cases, you will need qualified help from a master who will accurately determine the type of breakdown and quickly restore the operation of your air conditioner.
Conclusions and useful video on the topic
Detailed information on how to manually remove the noise and vibration of the air conditioner is presented in the following video:
The procedure for eliminating loud compressor noise is presented in this video:
The annoying noise of the air conditioner is not news for many owners of such climate equipment, especially if the unit has been in service for more than a year. The causes of such an unpleasant "symptom" can be completely different malfunctions, which an experienced user must learn to distinguish.
The article presented the most common causes of various air conditioner noise, which, if ignored, can lead to equipment stoppage. The presented situations will help you quickly determine the cause of the noise, and, in some cases, eliminate it yourself.
If your air conditioner has had a similar problem before and you had to solve it yourself, then please tell us your story. Your experience is very important to our readers. You can leave your comment in a special field after the article.
