Air conditioners should operate pretty quietly. You may hear a little whirring when the AC is blowing, but you should not hear much more than that. So what if your AC starts making a banging or clunking noise? Keep reading to discover what causes this problem and what you can do to solve it.

What causes the banging or clunking noise?

Usually this sound points to an issue with the blower or whole house fan. This is the unit that blows the cooled air into your ducts so it can flow through your home. Like any fan, the blower fan has fins and a motor. Sometimes, one or more of these parts will break and start moving around. You'll then hear it clunking around whenever the fan turns on. Parts that can break and cause a clunking noise include:

• A fan blade

• The belt that drives the motor

• A ball bearing meant to reduce friction in the blower motor

What should you do about the banging noise?

The problems that cause banging noises are not easy to fix on your own. You'll need to call an AC repair contractor. They can come out, diagnose the issue, and make the necessary repairs.

If your AC is still producing cool air and it is very hot outside, it is generally okay to keep running your air conditioner until the repair team arrives. None of the issues that cause banging are likely to cause life-threatening problems like electrical shocks or exhaust leaks.

What will an AC contractor do about the problem?

This depends on what, exactly, is causing the banging. If it's a worn ball bearing or a broken belt, the AC contractor will usually just replace the broken part. Both of these parts are inexpensive and fairly easy to install. If the fan is missing a blade or there is a bigger issue, the AC contractor may need to replace the entire blower motor. This is a more extensive repair, but the new blower should be backed by a warranty, which means you won't need to worry about paying for additional repairs for a few years.

How can you prevent this from happening again?

To prevent further problems with your blower motor, make sure you turn your whole house fan off when the AC is not in use. This will minimize wear and tear. Also, have an AC contractor come to maintain the AC unit once a year. They'll lubricate all moving parts and tune up the system to prevent excessive wear.

It's not normal for your AC unit to make a banging noise when blowing air. If yours is doing this, contact a repair team promptly.

Contact a local company to learn more, like Environmental Air Systems Inc.