Listening to Your HVAC's Ghost
Scary noises in the home take on a whole new meaning during the month of October. The imagination comes alive with every knock, bang, squeal, or hiss. However, those noises aren’t always from a ghost in the house. Often, they are caused by a faulty HVAC system. Be aware of the following common noises, what they indicate, and what to do about them to be safe and healthy this spooky season.
Watch for Refrigerant Leaks
Hissing noises in the home can make all of the hair on the arms stand up. It’s easy to envision monsters hiding under the bed when it’s late but the truth of the matter is something much less supernatural.Hissing sounds are often related to a refrigerant leak, which has the potential to be dangerous to the homeowner’s health. The hissing sound is also accompanied by other symptoms like a noticeable warmer home.
When people pay attention to a noisy HVAC system instead of ignoring it, they decrease their own as well as their family’s risk of developing health issues like irritated eyes, headaches, dizziness, and chronic coughing.
More serious symptoms include vomiting, heart palpitations, loss of consciousness, and shortness of breath. Fixing a refrigerant leak as soon as the homeowner notices it can also save money on their electricity bill.
Listen for Rattling Sounds
While rattling sounds are famous in horror movies for being worn by unfriendly ghosts, if they are noticed in the house, a homeowner may be dealing with a dirty outdoor HVAC unit.
Check outdoor noisy air conditioning and heating units for things that may have fallen into it like sticks, leaves and other outdoor debris (after turning the power to the unit off).
Rattling noises can also be caused by loose screws. If they can’t find the cause of a noisy HVAC unit or if there is obvious damage to the compressor, condenser coils, or fan), contact a local HVAC team to have them come out and take a look at it.
Homeowners can save hundreds of dollars in repairs and possible replacement. As a general rule of thumb, the louder that a sound in the HVAC system is, the more potentially serious the problem can be.
Don’t Ignore Electrical Issues
Electrical issues can make the home seem like a horror movie set. Buzzing noises are commonly ignored, as they seem benign enough to put off for another day.However, buzzing noises may also indicate a possible electrical issue with an overhead fan motor or other parts of a noisy HVAC system.
They can also be caused by a broken compressor or an incorrect amount of amperage to the HVAC system. It can also simply be attributed to a few loose parts!
Before a potential HVAC electrical issue becomes a fire hazard (which can happen easily with any loose or faulty wiring), have it checked out by a professional.
Boutwell’s Air Masters Can Help
Boutwell’s Air Masters is located in Pensacola, Florida. They have been open since 1973 and specialize in services like air conditioner repair and maintenance, duct cleaning and repair, and other HVAC related services. With the latest HVAC repair methods, you’ll enjoy a fast and effective service.
