Solving Crackling Noise Problem Of Your AC In Spring
What To Do When You Hear A Crackling Noise Coming From Your Spring AC
An air conditioner can make all different types of noises, with each of them stemming from different sources. If you hear a crackling noise coming from inside of the unit it might be caused by something harmless like a paper bag trapped inside, or it could be an electrical fire or something else really dangerous.
Wiring Issues
Crackling coming from inside the main unit might be something serious, such as an electrical fire, particularly if there is a funny smell along with the sound. If a neutral wire and hot wire or two hot wires are touching at the connection point of the wires on the air conditioner unit, a fire might spark. Electricity is supplied by the hot wires to the unit and usually are covered with insulation in order to prevent naked wires from accidentally touching. At the point where the wires are connected to the terminals on the air conditioner, the insulation is stripped from the wires to ensure a proper connection. At this point, two wires might be touching or there may be wire damage in the power supply lines between the circuit breaker and the air conditioner. If you suspect two wires might be touching immediately turn off the electricity.
Debris
Over the years, your air conditioning unit’s outside unit will likely collect dust and dirt. Your technician can clean the system out when performing maintenance. However, it is up to you to keep your air conditioner clean. It is easy to clear debris from your outside condenser, and it can help your system a lot.
It possible for various debris, like plastic bags, newspaper, and other types of crackly items to end up sucked inside the unit via the intake grills and then wrap around the fan’s component, which causes a crackling or crunching noises each time the fan comes on. Shut the power off to the air conditioner to eliminate the cause of the noise, take the fan-housing panel off of the unit and then inspect the area around the fan housing. Remove any debris you find to stop the noise and also prevent the motor on the fan from burning up.
Ductwork
The ducts send cold air from the air conditioner into the home’s various rooms. There are different forms that ducts come in, including straight metal and flexible. Older ductwork may deteriorate and eventually become “crunchy†which may cause a crackling as the ductwork vibrates when the unit is operating. Other ductwork may cause a similar sound due to it not being secured to the home’s structure properly, which leaves it free to vibrate or rattle against different items inside the crawl space or attic.
Ice
At times the unit might ice over while it is in operation. The cooling element or other unit parts create ice and causes the unit from being unable to work properly. As the ice reacts or thaws as the temperature changes, you might hear a crackling sound. A fan component that is not functioning properly can create inside the unit as well. If the compressor operates without the fan component, then the unit will end up suffering a freeze every time. The unit will need to be monitored to confirm that the fan is function properly. The problem might require a service call.
If you have not had your HVAC system serviced for a long time, it is likely that a routine maintenance visit is all you need to fix the smell in your property. Regularly servicing your system will help to keep the smell away and prevent any other issues with your HVAC system. Feel free to contact us or call Schiller Services today if you are in need of AC maintenance in Spring.