Why Is My Air Conditioning Unit Shaking?
When the hot summer weather hits, the last thing you want to deal with is a malfunctioning air conditioning system. If you've noticed that your air conditioning unit has started to vibrate persistently, it's an indication that there is something wrong with your system. Understanding what's wrong and knowing how to approach solving the problem effectively can help get you back to enjoying the comforts of home air conditioning.
What Could Be Causing the Vibration?
A shaking air conditioning system can be caused by several different factors. These can range from fairly simple fixes to expensive repairs on your system. The most common culprits of a vibrating air conditioning system include:
- Debris stuck in your fan blade
- Faulty fan motor
- Loose fan
- Oversized compressor, blower, or fan
- Poorly designed air ducts
- Out of balance fan motor or blade
Examining the Problem Closer For DIY Repairs
While it's not highly recommended that you perform HVAC repairs on your air conditioning system if you're unfamiliar with its mechanical makeup, you can do a couple of things to help solve the problem.
First, you want to shut off the power to your HVAC system at the circuit breaker so that you do not create any further issues with your air conditioning system while you're working on it.
Next, head out to your outdoor compressor unit. If there's any debris stacked up against the fins of your unit, it's best to clear that out. Go ahead and remove the screws and take off the AC grille cover. This will allow you to clearly see the fan blade and motor housing. You want to check this area to see if there is any debris like twigs and leaves that are constantly getting in the way of your fan blade spinning. If so, go ahead and remove the debris.
To check the balance of the fan and the motor, it's a good idea to go ahead and grab hold of them and try to move them. If you notice that your fan blades start to wobble from side to side, then it's out of balance. You may simply need to tighten it back down to solve the issue. The same holds true with your fan blower motor.
Once you've tightened up the fan blades or removed unnecessary debris in their pathway, go ahead and put the AC grille cover back on and turn the power back on at the circuit breaker. You'll know right away whether or not you solved the problem by listening. If the vibration is still occurring, it's best to go ahead and shut your air conditioning system off and contact a licensed HVAC professional to evaluate the problem. It's never a good idea to continue running your air conditioning system as you could create further damage to the broken component and other components inside of your system.
Call Us Today
If your air conditioning unit is shaking, it's time to give us a call today. Let our HVAC professionals evaluate your system and get it fixed to get back to staying cool and comfortable while you're at home.
