Why Is My Air Conditioner Making A Noise?
Hearing weird noises when your air conditioner is running? There’s likely something wrong with your unit. If you don’t pay attention to it, it could lead to major—and expensive—troubles down the road. We’re going to help you understand what’s going on with your air conditioner and what you can do to change it.
8 Common Air Conditioning Noises
- Gurgling – Gurgling usually indicates an issue with your refrigerant line. If you can’t pinpoint where the noise is coming from, that’s alright. A professional can help find out where this noise is occurring.
- Crackling – Crackling could come from debris in the unit or aging ductwork. Debris in the outdoor unit will cause a noise outside your house. Old ductwork can create noise inside your house.
- Hissing – Hissing sounds coming from your AC can come from a damanged refrigerant line, an internal valve leak or the compressor.
- Buzzing – Buzzing is likely an electrical issue.
- Clicking – Clicking can indicate you have a loose part or that the fan is misaligned.
- Pulsating – Pulsating can be caused by a loose part.
- Loud Noise – A noticeable noise from your outdoor unit can indicate an issue with your compressor, damper, fan or air handler.
- Humming – Humming can begin with fan motor issues or a busted relay switch. Read through our humming noise guide for more information.
You can find further information about frequent air conditioning issues on energy.gov
Should I keep operating my system when it’s making a noise?
There are a few cases where you can continue to run your AC, but you do so at your own risk. It’s hard to answer this question without inspecting your system.
Most of the time, we recommend turning the unit off and bringing in a professional.
When should I do something about the noise?
We recommend calling a professional as soon as you recognize there’s an issue with your unit. While AC repairs can be stressful and an unexpected expense, it’s better to get problems taken care of right away. Getting a professional could help reduce future expenses and keep your system running longer.
Not sure if your air conditioner is making any of these noises? Please schedule online for a free, in-home consultation.
