Why is My Air Conditioner Making Noise?

Your air conditioning unit will always make some noise when running, and older units are louder than newer ones, so consider the age of your unit before getting too concerned about the noise that it is making. At Scott Brothers Heating & Air, we recommend a maintenance inspection at least once a year to inspect the health of your air conditioner. If the regular noise level from your ac unit is too much for you, talk to one of our technicians and we can advise what the next step might be.

If the noise your air conditioner is making is unusual or is different from its regular hum there are a few things to consider.

How would you describe the unusual noise that your unit is making?

Rattling

This could be from something that fell into the vents, or something is loose, a bolt, screw or fastener. It could also be your compressor rattling. If it is your compressor or anything more serious than a loose bolt you will need a technician to look into the problem further.

Grinding

Most likely this is one of the fan motors, or it is possible that there is a worn bearing.

Popping

This noise might be coming from your duct work when your AC unit turns off and on. This usually indicates a problem with your duct work and not necessarily a problem with your central air. Duct work ages just the same as anything else and requires routine maintenance to make sure it is functioning effectively.

Hissing

Unless this noise is coming from your duct work (a common problem), this could possibly be a refrigerant leak. If that is the case you will need one of our technicians to handle the problem.

Your air conditioner is a piece of machinery with many moving parts and, like a car, it requires regular maintenance by experienced professionals to diagnose and treat problems.

Trust your ears, if your air conditioner is making a noise that is unusual or harsh, call us today at 336-877-1702 or schedule service online.

Contact the experts!