It's that time of the year when your air conditioner is more prone to developing problems. The hot, sticky, and uncomfortable weather brings them out like bees from a bee hive, plaguing homeowners with ac sounds. If you've decided to handle home repairs on your own, the following information will help you isolate if it's a problem in the condenser, fan motor, or compressor.

Clicking or Popping Noises

If your air conditioner is making popping or clicking noises when it turns on, this could be caused by dirt or debris that's built up in the condenser coils. To clean them out, turn off the power to your AC unit at the breaker box and use a vacuum to remove any loose dirt and debris from the coils. If there's still debris stuck inside after vacuuming them out, take a stiff wire brush and scrub away any remaining particles until they're gone. Then turn on your unit again and see if the problem has been resolved.

Screeching or Squealing Noise

If you've ever heard an AC making screeching or squealing noises, it can be quite unsettling. But there's no need to panic — there are a few things that could be causing this noise, and most of them are easy to fix.

A common cause of AC noise is a bad belt. Belts are used to turn the compressor and fan, which pull air into the system and push it through the ducts. The belt also connects to the pulley that controls the blower motor speed. If a belt is loose or worn out, it may make strange noises as it vibrates against other parts of your AC unit.

Another possible cause of weird sounds from your air conditioner is a defective capacitor — this component helps regulate voltage in your system. A faulty capacitor can cause power surges and lead to strange sounds from your AC unit when it kicks on or off.

Buzzing Noises

Buzzing noises are typically caused by dirty coils or a dirty filter. As the coils heat up, they vibrate against the base of the unit, producing a humming sound that can range from faint to loud depending on the severity of the problem. This can also occur if there's dust or lint on the condenser unit itself. If you hear buzzing coming from your air conditioner's compressor, this could be a sign that it's about to fail and needs immediate attention from a professional technician.

Knocking or Banging Sounds

A banging sound can be caused by a loose connection between a piece of equipment and its frame, or it can be caused by a defective fan blade hitting the side of the blower housing. If this is the case, you'll need to replace either the motor or its fan blades.

You can solve many air conditioner problems by contacting a professional who handles ac repair.