Why Is My Air Conditioner Making A Noise?

Hearing odd noises when your air conditioner is working? There's likely something wrong with your unit. If you don’t pay attention to it, it could lead to extensive—and expensive—issues eventually. We're going to help you find out what’s happening 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 originating from, that's alright. An expert can help determine where this noise is occurring. You can find more information on our gurgling noises guide.
• Crackling - Crackling could be due to debris in the unit or aging ductwork. Debris in the outdoor unit will generate a noise outside your house. Mature ductwork can produce noise inside your house. Read our crackling noise guide for more information.
• Hissing - Hissing can be created by a damanged refrigerant line, an internal valve leak or the compressor. Look through our hissing noise guide for more information.
• Buzzing - Buzzing is likely an electrical issue. See our buzzing noise guide for further information.
• Clicking - Clicking can indicate you have a loose part or that the fan is misaligned. You can find more information in our clicking noise guide.
• Pulsating - Pulsating can be due to a loose part. Go through our pulsating noise guide for more information.
• Loud Noise - A noticeable noise from your external unit can mean an issue with your compressor, damper, fan or air handler. Look at our loud noise guide for additional information.
• Humming - Humming can arise from fan motor issues or a broken relay switch. Read through our humming noise guide for more information.

You can find more information about prevalent air conditioning issues on energy.gov

Should I keep using my AC 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 contacting 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 air conditioner. While AC repairs can be stressful and an unexpected expense, it's best to get problems taken care of right away. Calling 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 fill out the form below for a free, in-home consultation.