Why Is My Air Conditioner Making A Noise?

Hearing weird noises when your air conditioner is running? There’s probably something wrong with your unit. If you don’t pay attention to it, it could lead to significant—and expensive—issues down the road. We’re going to help you figure out what’s occurring with your air conditioner and what you can do to change it. 

8 Common Air Conditioning Noises 

• Gurgling – Gurgling generally indicates a problem with your refrigerant line. If you can’t determine where the noise is originating 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 generate a noise outside your house. Aging ductwork can cause noise inside your house.
• Hissing – Hissing can come from a leaky refrigerant line, an internal valve leak or the compressor.
• Buzzing – Buzzing is likely an electrical issue.
• Clicking – Clicking can hint you have a loose part or that the fan is misaligned.
• Pulsating – Pulsating can be due to a loose part.
• Loud Noise – A clear noise from your outdoor unit can signal an issue with your compressor, damper, fan or air handler.
• Humming – Humming can begin with fan motor issues or a broken relay switch. Check out our humming noise guide for more information. 

You can find additional information about frequent air conditioning issues on energy.gov 

Should I keep using my air conditioner 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 difficult to answer this question without inspecting your system. 

In most cases, we recommend shutting off the unit off and calling a professional. 

When should I do something about the noise? 

We recommend calling a professional as soon as you suspect there’s something wrong with your air conditioner. 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 minimize 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.