Why is my AC unit making noise? Every air conditioner hums — it’s the new sounds, the ones that weren’t there last summer, that deserve your attention. The summer season is almost upon us, which means the heat is shutting off and very soon the air conditioning will be kicking on. When the summer heat is in full swing the last thing that homeowners want to hear is that funny noise coming from their A/C unit.
For the most part air conditioning units are relatively quiet, so when you hear a noise coming from your unit you are going to want to pay attention.
Noises are a good indication that something has either broken or is on the way to breaking. Nobody wants to be stuck in Toronto’s mid-summer heat without air conditioning.
When dealing with a problem with your A/C unit, calling a professional is always the recommended advice as you can damage your unit if you are unsure of what you are doing, or even worse hurt yourself. If you decide to look into the noise yourself here are some places to start:
Remember to always disconnect the Power to your Unit before attempting any repairs or adjustments to your unit.
Why Is My AC Unit Making Noise? Sound-by-Sound Guide
If you’re asking why is my AC unit making noise, translate the sound: banging usually means a loose or broken part inside the compressor, buzzing points to electrical trouble or a failing capacitor, hissing can be a refrigerant leak, gurgling suggests the condensate line, and screeching is often a belt or fan-motor bearing. None of these improve with volume — catch them small.
- Loose hardware– Rattling sounds can be the result of loose screws or other hardware. Over time the vibrations of the unit can cause screws to come loose or unattached. Then when the air kicks on it causes the loose or unattached piece to shake and rattle around. Many times this can be quickly fixed with a little work with your screwdriver.
- Fan – If you are hearing a rattling, banging or slight humming sound coming from your fan it could be as simple as dirty fan or damaged fan blades. Turn off your unit and take a look inside, clean out any debris that you find and look over the blades. If they are not straight or have small dents it can cause the fan to be off balance, possibly resulting in the noise you are hearing.
- Hissing sounds – A hissing sound coming from your A/C unit can be a serious problem. Hissing sounds can be the result of a refrigerant leak or high levels of pressure inside of your unit. If you hear hissing from your A/C unit is best to shut it off and call in the professionals.
- Loose mounts – Clanking and rattling sounds from the compressor can be the result of a loose internal mount. You will want to address this noise to prevent further damage because this sound could indicate that the motor has come loose.
- Bearings – If you hear a mild squeaking from your air conditioner it is most likely a bearing that is in need of lubricant. While this is something that you can take care of on your own you will want to consult your manual to make sure that you are using the proper lubrication.
- Compressor – Banging noises that are coming from your outside unit and are not the result of the fan blades could be a damaged compressor. This could be caused from a loose internal part and continual use could result in the need to replace your compressor altogether.
Noises coming from your A/C unit should be promptly dealt with so as not to cause further damage to your unit. The professionals at Lloyd HVAC are just a call away and ready to help get your unit running smoothly to keep you cool all summer long. Contact us today for a free estimate.
Answering why is my AC unit making noise early is the difference between a $200 part and a $2,000 compressor.
For unit efficiency ratings and sizing basics, ENERGY STAR Canada is a solid reference.
The Bottom Line
Recorded the sound on your phone? Great instinct. Send it our way and we’ll tell you why your AC unit is making noise — Call Lloyd HVAC at (647) 344-4822 — we answer 7 AM to 9 PM, seven days a week.
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