Sometimes our cars, appliances, and even air conditioners make the strangest noises, but how do you know if they’re normal or if something might be wrong? It’s not always as easy as hitting the ‘restart’ button on your computer, so it’s important to know when you should call a professional or contractor to check it out. The following are some tips about what sounds are normal and what indicates professional problem when it comes to your air conditioning unit. Outdoor unit noise is normal upon start-up and shut down.  The outdoor unit is where most of the mechanical operations in your system take place and depending on the type of equipment, it can be noisy and somewhat varied when it starts up and/or shuts down.  Typically, most air conditioners make noise when they first cycle on, which can be caused by the buildup of pressure in the refrigerant lines or from bearings, fans or other moving pieces starting up.  The same is true when the unit cycles off, or comes to a stop, as the pressures need to equalize.   

Sometimes this causes a unique noise that sounds like air escaping, a click or rattle. : If the start-up and shut down sounds are the same from cycle to cycle and not too loud, it’s probably normal and not worth calling a contractor. Outdoor unit running noise after start-up can also vary among different types of equipment.  Once the outdoor unit starts up, it should reach a consistent sound where you hear the fan blowing and the other mechanical parts humming along.  Sometimes you might hear a cycling sound over the period of a few seconds where the unit changes the pitch of its normal running sound and might get louder or quieter in “waves.”  If it gets increasingly louder as the system is running, then it might require a contractor to see whether it is out of balance or requires further inspection.  If you hear a loud, intermittent mechanical “scraping” or “banging” noise, this is not normal and you should shut your system down and call a contractor to inspect it as soon as possible.

: Significant changes in pitch or ‘banging’ noises indicate you should call a contractor. Indoor unit sound is usually the sound of the fan moving air through your system.  It is most noticeable when the system turns on and off. If you have a high efficiency system (16 SEER and over) you could hear two distinct sounds as your system moves from high to low cooling speed.  The high speed sound can be noticeable, but the low might be so quiet you can barely hear it. : Air moving through your system should sound smooth and consistent once it is running. In general, sound is a subjective attribute and the above descriptions are provided as a guideline for noises that could potentially signal a costly problem.  In addition, we have recorded some typical compressor sounds you might hear during a normal start up, run and shut down cycle as examples. Sounds like the ones you will hear in this audio file are typical examples of what you might hear during normal operation in a healthy system.

Whynter Portable Air Conditioner Troubleshooting Whynter Portable Ice Maker Troubleshooting Whynter Outdoor Misting Fan Troubleshooting We do not recommend placing the unit on carpet. The evaporator can be bent upwards slightly to raise the prongs. guardian 4 ton ac unitThe evaporator should be level.car ac repair richmond ky Change the water in the inner tank. car ac repair brunswick gaThe ideal water temperature is 50°F-90°F. SNO Titanium ice makers only: SNO 3 in 1 ICE-100S ice makers only: Unit is not switched on. The water level indicator (red ball) is not moving. Water tank is about half full. Turn on the unit using the On/Off switch and press the Start button. Hold a glass of water about 5 inches above fill compartment and pour water into unit.

Make sure that the red ball is floating. The unit stops taking in water when the water tank is about half full. Bottle supporter is not installed properly. Unit needs to be restarted. Bottle has a cap or seal. Make sure the bottle supporter is properly installed with the arrow facing front and center. Turn off the unit for a minute and turn back on then push Start button. Take off the bottle and manual fill the unit with water. Remove cap or seal then reposition bottle back on to bottle supporter. Turn on Power and push Start button. Reduce or increase the water pressure. The unit only takes in water to up to the "Min." line when you first press the "Start" button, then it won't take in water until the 1st batch of ice is dropped. The unit does not take in water when ice making is in process so you will see the low water light blinks through out the process. There is nothing wrong with the unit as long as it keeps taking in water after each batch of ice and the green light stays on.

If you own a car, it probably makes noises you can't identify, but would love to fix. Car noises are not just annoying: sometimes they are a warning sign, like the calm before a storm. Here are the four car noises customers most commonly complain about. Sometimes noises are hard to identify, because a noise travels throughout the vehicle and it is hard to pinpoint where it's coming from. But with a trained ear and some insight, we should be able to figure out what is causing the noise in your car and what you can do to fix it. Common Car Noises and Their Likely Causes 1. Clicking Noise While TurningProbable cause: Failed outer CV joint If your car is making a clicking noise when turning, it is likely you have an outer CV joint (constant velocity joint) that has failed because of a torn boot or old age, most likely a torn boot. Without going into too much detail about what a CV joint is, I will just give you a basic idea of its function and why it might have failed.

What Are CV Joints? A CV joint is a set of ball bearings at the inner and outer ends of an axle. It lets a spinning axle bend while it’s still spinning (see this cool animation if you like). A rubber “boot” covers the entire joint and protects it from dirt, debris, and moisture, while holding in the grease that lubricates the ball bearings. Over time, since it’s just rubber, the boot becomes brittle and dry. Eventually it will split open and allow specks of dirt and debris to enter the joint. Once foreign matter mixes with the grease, the damage begins, and it is only a matter of time before the CV joint starts to make a clicking noise when turning. This clicking noise while turning will start out faint, but gradually it will become noticeable and eventually very loud. How to Fix It The only way to fix this condition is to replace either the whole axle assembly or the outer CV joint. My professional opinion is that it’s better to replace the entire axle assembly;

it’s usually cheaper, even if you can even find the outer joint sold by itself, and it doesn't make much sense to mix old parts with new parts. Noise From the CV Joint When Turning 2. Water Pump NoisesProbable cause: Failed water pump Water pump noises are very difficult to diagnose, because the water pump is generally buried deep in the motor, and the noise will resonate through the engine making it difficult to identify. The water pump on your engine is a thick metal casting containing a pulley, pump fins (a palm-sized propeller to push the water along), and a bearing set. When a water pump fails, the noise is usually caused by damage to the bearings. The video below is a great example of what a noisy water pump sounds like. How to Verify the Sound Is Coming From Water Pump If you suspect your water pump is the culprit for the noise in your car, try to locate the water pump on the engine. if you can see the casting of the water pump, you can pinpoint the noise by holding the end of a long screwdriver against the casting and putting the other end of the screwdriver against your ear;

if the bearing is bad you will hear the noise through the screwdriver. (See the video below, under “Using a screwdriver like a stethoscope.”) The only fix for a noisy water pump is to replace it. Because of its location (often under the timing belt cover and bolted to the engine block), an awful lot of parts have to be removed to get to it, so it can take several hundred dollars worth of labor to replace a $50 part. If it is nearly time for a routine timing belt replacement (every 60,000 to 105,000 miles or so depending on the car), you might want to have that done at the same time as the water pump, because timing belt service is one of the rare occasions when a water pump is easy to get to. In fact dealerships will often want to replace your water pump routinely, whether it’s worn out or not, as part of a timing belt service. Great Example of a Water Pump Noise Using a Screwdriver Like a StethoscopeIn the video below the mechanic uses a screwdriver like a stethoscope, pressing it against the hub of a wheel to listen to a wheel bearing noise.

3. Squeak or Squeal from an Engine BeltProbable cause: Engine belts need adjustment or replacement Engine belts can create a loud, high-pitched squeak or squeal that will drive you and your neighbors crazy. Some engine belts only squeak after you go through a large puddle or if there is heavy moisture in the air, and others squeak constantly. If your engine belts squeak only when damp, you probably only need to have the belts adjusted. If your belts squeak constantly, they may be dry, cracked, or loose, and probably need to be replaced. Some folks like to use a spray called “belt dressing” to stop the engine belt squeal or squeak. Keep in mind that this spray will not fix anything permanently. It is, however, a great tool for diagnosing the noise and finding out which belt the noise is coming from. If you have belt dressing, this is what you do: when the engine is running, just spray it on each belt to see which belt starts to quiet down. Inspect your engine belts for cracks, damage, and tension, and replace or adjust them as needed.

What May Cause An Engine Belt to Squeak or Squeal 4. Exhaust Heat Shield NoisesProbable cause: Damaged heat shield A heat shield noise is a type of rattle you hear while your car is idling, or at a specific engine speed or RPM. Heat shields are metal plates along the exhaust system of your car that deflect heat away from the floor of your vehicle and other heat-sensitive components like fuel tanks, wiring, and brake lines. As the exhaust system ages, sometime the heat shields start to rust at the hold-down points and become loose. If this is your problem, the engine vibrations will cause an awful noise as you’re sitting at a stop light or as your car is idling in the driveway warming up. It sounds like rocks being shaken on a cookie sheet. Heat shields can become damaged due to road debris, snow banks, automotive lifts, and just plain old age. In some cases, a damaged heat shield can be removed temporarily without causing any repercussions, but it's best to replace them as soon as possible.

An automotive exhaust system can become extremely hot, even 1000o Fahrenheit if you are running your engine at high RPM for long periods, like on the highway. A Car-Buying SecretCar noises are inevitable; even new cars have noises that need to be fixed. Here's a little tip that not too many people know about. When buying a new car, if possible, find out what day it came off the assembly line. Watch out for cars built the day before a holiday, or on a Friday afternoon. It may sound funny, but humans are building these vehicles, and you know what happens at 5 o'clock on Friday or at closing time the day before a holiday: we rush our work so we can head home to relax or prepare for the holiday. This is not a fact I found in a documentary or anything, it's just my experience. When our shop saw new cars with a lot of little problems, it seemed like they were always built on these out-the-door days. Ask Someone About Your NoiseThere are a lot more car noises than what is outlined here in this article, and it would take a lot more time to explain every one of them, so I only covered the noises my customers complain about the most.

Just remember, noise could be a warning sign, so if you have a noise in your car that you are unsure of, bring it to your trustworthy mechanic to have it checked out before it costs you even more money. If you have a noise in your car and you can't seem to figure it out, ask me about it in the comment box below and I will answer your question as soon as possible. If you found this article helpful, please share it on Facebook or Twitter, just click the buttons at the top of the page. Thank you, I really appreciate it. More by Eddie Carrara on Car NoisesDiagnosing a Wheel Bearing Noise. Your mechanic says you need a wheel bearing. What's a wheel bearing? Pictures, video, and my own interpretation of what a wheel bearing is, what its job is, where it's located, and the noises it makes. Steering Wheel Vibration: My Car Shakes While I’m Driving. If your steering wheel vibrates, or your car shakes while driving at highway speed, find out why. Don't spend money unnecessarily on an alignment or other services that won't fix this problem.

Four Common Brake Squeaks. if your brakes squeak, and you want to know why, maybe I can help! Here are four common brake squeaks plus a bonus scraping noise; compare these situations to yours. Bonus Noise: Scraping Noise From Wheel More by this AuthorDIY Auto Repair3 Most Common Brake Noises: Causes and How to Fix ThemThree common brake noises I encounter every day: a grinding sound, a thumping from the rear, and a squeak. Includes a repair technique for noisy drum brakes that I found by trial and error. DIY Auto RepairMy Car Is Leaking Fluid: Six Liquids That May Drip From a CarFluid leaking from a car could mean immediate repairs are needed, or it could be something totally normal. How to identify the leak and figure out what, if anything, needs to be done about it. DIY Auto RepairHonda “Check Engine” Light: What Could Be the Problem?Ten possible events that can trigger a "check engine" light in a Honda. Read the ten questions here; they will give you useful information that will help your mechanic diagnose the problem quickly.