Why Is My Air Conditioner Making A Noise?

Hearing strange noises when your air conditioner is on? There’s probably something wrong with your AC. If you don’t fix it, it could lead to extensive—and expensive—troubles later. We’re going to help you find out what’s happening with your air conditioner and what you can do to fix it. 

8 Common Air Conditioning Noises 

• Gurgling – Gurgling normally indicates a problem with your refrigerant line. If you can’t identify where the noise is emanating from, that’s alright. An expert can help verify 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 can come from a leaky refrigerant line, an internal valve leak or the compressor.
• Buzzing – Buzzing is no doubt an electrical issue.
• Clicking – Clicking can hint you have a loose part or that the fan is misaligned.
• Pulsating – Pulsating can come from a loose part.
• Loud Noise – A clear noise from your outdoor unit can indicate an issue with your compressor, damper, fan or air handler.
• 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 frequent air conditioning troubles on energy.gov 

Should I keep operating my AC when it’s making a noise? 

There are limited 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 examining your system. 

In most cases, 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 think there’s something wrong with your system. While AC repairs can be stressful and an unexpected cost, it’s best to get problems corrected right away. Contacting a professional could help lower 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.