What Are The Causes Of An AC Shaking and Vibrating?

Air conditioners are meant to be life savers when the weather outside is extremely hot and humid. Although, air conditioners are meant to run quietly and smoothly, but sometimes they can run into complications that require immediate attention. Some homeowners have complained of their air conditioners shaking and vibrating while running. We have compiled a list of some of its causes along with some troubleshooting tips. However, if anything seems confusing, call in AC repair services.

Vibrations In The Compressor

The compressor is one of the most important components inside an air conditioner. It is designed to compress the refrigerant that goes through the condenser and evaporator coils. Even though modern air conditioners and their compressors are very quiet and hardly make a sound, if you have a unit that has a vibrating compressor, it means something is wrong.

One thing you need to keep in mind is that the compressor comprises several different components such as the bearings. With time, the components tend to turn weak and the compressor might start to shake and vibrate. It could also be that your air conditioner was recently serviced and was not placed on a level surface.

Plus, it could also be that your compressor was repaired and was not installed properly. You can try inspecting the compressor to make sure it is properly installed. But, if the culprit tends to be the components inside the compressor, you might have to replace it.

Improper Installation

Another key factor contributing to AC shaking and vibrating is poor AC installation. A common mistake homeowners tend to make is ignoring the maintenance or hiring an amateur individual to work on the unit. For these people, spending money on maintenance hardly holds any value.

As a result, when it comes to re-installing the unit, they tend to do it in a hurry or do not follow the proper procedures, which causes the air conditioner to end up with loose bolts and other minor components. Plus, it could also be that the amateur ignored placing the unit on a level surface.

This is why it is important to always hire a professional for AC-related tasks. You might think that it is an expense until you end up wasting your money and time on the same thing that was recently repaired or replaced. Professional maintenance goes a long way in terms of avoiding complicated issues that might make it uncomfortable for you to survive.

Age And Wear

Air conditioners even if maintained properly will need to be replaced sooner or later. Then again, as mentioned previously, AC units consist of several different parts that come with a lifespan. With time, these components become weak and start to shake, vibrate, or make weird sounds and noises.

In many cases, the homeowners tend to ignore such signs & symptoms waiting for them to go away on their own. But, if that is the case, you should know that your air conditioner is quite old and needs to be replaced. At this point, you should not be spending money on repairs and replacements and simply opt for a new unit.

Loose Components

There is no doubt that the components inside the air conditioner tend to shake and vibrate while running normally. As time goes by, the constant vibration and shaking might result in loose screws, nuts and bolts. To avoid such situations, you need to perform regular inspections and maintenance.

Keep in mind that maintenance also helps avoid minor issues that could turn into big ones later down the road. This is why it’s named preventive maintenance. By identifying any potential problems and fixing them on the spot, you get to make your way through without any troubles down the road.

Problem With The Fans

Among the major components inside your HVAC system are condenser and evaporator coils. These coils tend to dissipate heat via the fans as it is generated as a byproduct of producing cool air. If there is an imbalance in the system, vibrations could occur. Plus, because the outdoor unit has to bear the brunt of extreme weather conditions, the fans might face some complications too.

For instance, dead leaves, shrubs, and branches might end up in the outdoor unit making it difficult for the fans to operate. As a result, they will utilize more power resulting in vibration and shaking. This is another reason why you should ensure the fans are working perfectly fine and perform regular inspections to ensure nothing troubles the unit. If your outdoor unit is shaking, vibrating, or making noises, consult HVAC repair services Vienna for an inspection and repairs.

Refrigerant Issues

You might think that refrigerant holds minor importance but it is essentially the lifeline of the unit. Without proper refrigerant levels, the unit will struggle to warm or cool down the room. You might notice that the fan is running but the AC is not cooling. Plus, it will also put extra pressure on the compressor forcing it to work harder than usual to make up for the loss.

As a result, you may notice that the outdoor unit is shaking and vibrating which is due to the compressor and low refrigerant levels in this case. Ultimately, the entire unit may shake as the situation turns worse. That said, one of the ways to ensure your air conditioner always works at its optimum is by checking the refrigerant levels.

The refrigerant tends to leak as well due to rust, cracks, and damage in coils and other parts. So, this means that you should avoid such issues as much as possible.

Undersized Or Oversized Unit

Some people think that opting for an undersized or oversized unit helps effectively cool down the area and saves a lot of electricity. It is a misconception that needs to be addressed. An undersized unit will struggle to achieve the desired temperature and will continuously work at its optimum to cool down the area.

This means the air conditioner instead of lowering its Rpms will keep them high. As a result, the unit will consume more electricity than usual leading to rising energy bills each month. On the other hand, an oversized unit will achieve the desired temperature relatively quicker but will constantly trip as well.

As a result, the unit will consume more electricity due to constant tripping. Either way, the bills are going to rise and if the unit happens to be too large, it might cause vibration and excessive wear on the system.

Does AC Maintenance Help?

Getting your air conditioner inspected and maintained regularly by a professional does a lot in terms of avoiding unexpected situations down the road. Even if you have a normal running unit, you might still run into some issues that might require a professional’s help.

This means that you need to make sure your air conditioner gets the professional care it needs. Plus, the unit might be making unusual sounds or noises that went unnoticed by you. In such cases, the professional will be able to sort that out without you having to trouble yourself.

Conclusion

There are a wide variety of reasons why your air conditioner might be shaking or vibrating. Instead of panicking, you should be familiar with how to tackle such issues. These tips will surely help you with that as you sail through the winter and summer seasons without having to worry about the unit giving up on you when you least expect it. For help, consider contacting air conditioning companies Chantilly.