When I turned on the unit my neighbor came over and said it was making a loud "grinding" noise coming from the compressor. I immediately turned it off and didn't hear the sound myself. It wasn't on long enough for me to determine if it was cooling inside. I do remember thinking that it wasn't doing a great job cooling at the end of the summer but it was so hot down here I just let it go. I'm a widow and live alone. I don't trust rempairmen down here. Several people have been ripped off since the hurricanes last year. If anyone has any thoughts so that I'll know what to expect from repairmen. I do appreciate it.

It is probably a fan blade problem. Is this a heat pump? Or you need A/C where you live? I can only guess since I can't see or hear it.