Why is My Air Conditioner Making Noises?

Paying attention to the condition of your AC unit is important. Your AC unit might be making strange sounds, which can be an indicator that some parts have been worn down or your ac unit has a leakage.

Let’s dive deeper to understand why it is making a strange noise.

Banging and knocking
If your AC unit sounds like there’s a banging noise coming from the inside, it is likely that your outdoor unit’s fan is hitting something. This might be a branch and can cause the fan to turn loose and become wobbly. You should stop the unit immediately to prevent further damage to the fan and contact a professional air conditioning contractor.

Hissing or screaming
A hissing or screaming sound from the outside unit can be an indicator that the system has high pressure built up in your system. This can be very dangerous, so shut off your AC unit and call for professional help.

Screeching
If your AC unit is making loud screeching noises, it is an indicator that your fan motor bearings have been compromised, and you will need to have the fan motor replaced.

Clicking
Clicking could happen when your AC unit is running or when it won’t start. If your AC unit is running while the clicking happens, it could be caused by a small obstruction in the outdoor unit’s fan. This is generally a minor issue. Just simply remove the obstruction and the clicking noise should be gone. On the other hand, if your AC unit won’t start, it could be caused by many different issues, so you should contact an AC professional.

Gurgling/bubbling noise
When your AC unit is making gurgling noise, it could be because of a refrigerant leak. You can continue to run your AC unit as long as your condensate drain line has a proper trap, but any refrigerant issue be professionally checked out.

If you are not able to identify the root cause to why your AC unit is making weird noises, you might need to call an HVAC professional for help.

ELA Home Repairs is a non-for-profit organization that provides free referrals to Arizona residents. We have a system to verify that the contractor is licensed, bonded, and insured to protect you from potential home contractor issues.

Call 800-368-7767 or visit www.elahomerepairs.org for a free referral to a licensed, bonded, and insured contractor.