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My girlfriend and I get very stuffy at night. We move the fan into the on position so it's running as the air conditioning comes off and on. The last 2 days I've noticed a strange noise...
Seems to be a squeaking happening. I'm hearing it at night (but that may very well be because it's quiet, tv is off, noticing it more, etc). As far as I can tell, it's when the fan is running for a while after the air conditioner switches off. Any ideas what this could be and how worried I should be? It's not constant but I've heard it a handful of times each of the last 3 nights. Hearing it inside the house. Doesn't seem to be with the outside unit. Thanks!
My girlfriend and I get very stuffy at night. We move the fan into the on position so it's running as the air conditioning comes off and on. The last 2 days I've noticed a strange noise...
Seems to be a squeaking happening. I'm hearing it at night (but that may very well be because it's quiet, tv is off, noticing it more, etc). As far as I can tell, it's when the fan is running for a while after the air conditioner switches off. Any ideas what this could be and how worried I should be? It's not constant but I've heard it a handful of times each of the last 3 nights. Hearing it inside the house. Doesn't seem to be with the outside unit. Thanks!
The way that the ductwork tends to amplify / focus any sounds coming from the central HVAC unit's fan the most likely explanation is that the "squeak" is currently a minor problem. Odds are that when the compressor is on the extra noise it provides is masking the sound OR causing the fan to run at a different speed where the squeak is not happening.
The squeak might be a slipping belt, misaligned pulley, lubricated surface or early signs of a failing bearing. The first three are very cheap to fix, even in areas with high base rate for HVAC service call this might be about a cheap charge as they do. Even if it bearing going bad this is still potentially something that might be pretty inexpensive, some units have field replacement kits that are cheap. Of course you would need to have a trust worthy technician that can spell out what the total cost of such replacement, including labor, will be and compare that to the total cost (and potential trade-off for reliability) compared to replacing motor or whole blower assembly...
First question: DO you have a trust worthy HVAC technician? Do not use a firm that is trying to drum up business with 'discount coupons' or "free inspection" offers online or with other advertising. Rely instead on family, neighbors, co-workers that have have good experiences with technicians that ethically explain what they've found to be the problem for similar service calls and done the work for a fair price.
The way that the ductwork tends to amplify / focus any sounds coming from the central HVAC unit's fan the most likely explanation is that the "squeak" is currently a minor problem. Odds are that when the compressor is on the extra noise it provides is masking the sound OR causing the fan to run at a different speed where the squeak is not happening.
The squeak might be a slipping belt, misaligned pulley, lubricated surface or early signs of a failing bearing. The first three are very cheap to fix, even in areas with high base rate for HVAC service call this might be about a cheap charge as they do. Even if it bearing going bad this is still potentially something that might be pretty inexpensive, some units have field replacement kits that are cheap. Of course you would need to have a trust worthy technician that can spell out what the total cost of such replacement, including labor, will be and compare that to the total cost (and potential trade-off for reliability) compared to replacing motor or whole blower assembly...
First question: DO you have a trust worthy HVAC technician? Do not use a firm that is trying to drum up business with 'discount coupons' or "free inspection" offers online or with other advertising. Rely instead on family, neighbors, co-workers that have have good experiences with technicians that ethically explain what they've found to be the problem for similar service calls and done the work for a fair price.
Could also be a loose duct. I chased one of these gremlins down in one of my rentals. The installer had not used mastic, only tape to seal a ducting joint and that tape dried up in the 130 degree attic.when the fan kicked on, it caused a minor wobble that created the squeak as the ducting joint rubbed together.
7 pounds of lost water weight later, some mastic and a tin strap solved it.
It happens when the motor has come loose and is moving inside the sealed compressor or caused by a defective thermostat. Call the HVAC expert to fix squealing issue.
It happens when the motor has come loose and is moving inside the sealed compressor or caused by a defective thermostat. Call the HVAC expert to fix squealing issue.
First- motor and compressor are one in the same. Motor shaft is crankshaft, and attached to that is a connecting rod and piston.
A thermostat doesn't cause squeaks. It's a temperature controlled electrical switch.
The OP specifically stated that (s)he was sure that the condenser unit was NOT the source of the noise. Perhaps something other than HVACR would be of interest to you(?)
OP- by your description I'd say you probably have a problem with the blower motor- but I've also had instances like that that were not "mechanical" in nature but were other issues with either the airhandler itself, the ductwork, or registers. Isolating the noise as to location and origin usually requires a keen ear that comes with years of experience.
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Might be simple...
