Troubleshooting a Window Air Conditioner that Is Noisy

A window air conditioner is a great way of keeping a room cool in the absence of central air conditioning. Window air conditioners come as a comprehensive unit that can be mounted on a window or specially designed aperture in a room. You do not need to install additional piping or separate condenser units.

Window air conditioners are a good option if you just need to cool a single room. Installing them is also far simpler than designing and installing central air conditioner units. However, the biggest problem with window air conditioners is that they can sometimes be very noisy. Here are some steps that you can follow to troubleshoot a window air conditioner that is noisy.

Check for Foreign Objects

If your window air conditioner suddenly starts making a loud noise, perhaps a foreign object has fallen into it. This is quite common in these types of air conditioners because the outer part of the unit hangs outside your window, making it easy for small animals or flying debris to enter your air conditioner. Switch off your air conditioner immediately, open the front grille, and use a torch to peek inside. If your office is on the ground floor, it is possible that a family of rats or lizards may have made it their home. Remove the foreign object(s), fasten the front grille, and start the air conditioner once more.

Check the Fan Blades

Sometimes, the fan blades inside the window air conditioner unit may bend because of striking a foreign object. Check to see if the blades are straight. If not, straighten them, until they are properly aligned. If you are not able to figure out whether the blades are bent or not, consider seeking professional assistance.

Check for Vibrations

Window air conditioner units are pretty heavy, have lots of moving parts and are precariously mounted on windows. As a result, these units are prone to a lot of vibration if they have not been mounted correctly. Touch the sides of the window frame on which the air conditioner is mounted. If they are vibrating excessively, you should call the people who installed the air conditioner and ask them to fix it so that the vibration is minimized.

Check the Front Grille

The front grille of a window air conditioner needs to be removed on a regular basis to clean the filter. These grilles are usually held in place by a simple locking mechanism. If the grille is not put back properly, or the locking mechanism is defective or damaged, it can vibrate and cause a lot of noise. Remove the grille and set it back on properly to eliminate this noise. If the locking mechanism has been damaged, you may have to replace it.

Insufficient Lubrication

If the fan motor is not properly lubricated, it can result in a loud persistent noise. If this is the case, switch off the air conditioner to avoid damaging the motor. Since most fan motors are sealed, you may have to call for professional assistance to lubricate the fan motor.