Fixing a Noisy AC Unit

What’s that racket? Noisy AC systems are kind of like crying children. They’re trying to tell you something. You should listen to the things your AC is trying to say – it’s their only form of communication.

If you ignore these strange and sometimes irritating sounds, you could be setting yourself up to pay for big repairs later on. A lot of times these noises are signals to small issues with your unit that are simple fixes. But if you let these issues go on for too long, the repairs and potential replacement of your AC unit could end up costing you. The sooner you can get to the bottom of the strange wailings of your AC the better.

Listen for these sounds:

• Banging
• Clicking
• Clanking
• Buzzing
• Squealing
• Humming
• Rattling
• Screaming

If you hear any of these noises, your first step is to do some simple DIY maintenance – removing debris from around the unit, wash off excess dirt and grime with a soft spray from a hose. Inside the house, make sure to change the filter.

After that, turn the AC back on and listen to see if the noises are still the same.

This is your quick, easy and simplified first line of defense. If these fixed the sound, then congratulations, you just worked out a small problem that could have cost you big. If this didn’t fix the issue, then we recommend getting a tune up and a diagnostic. Your air conditioning unit is a relatively simple machine but there are lots of complicated moving parts that can require expert attention.

An important note: we always recommend AGAINST opening up the unit and inspecting it yourself. If you don’t kill the power (say, accidentally shut off the wrong circuit breaker) and the fan kicks on you could lose a finger or worse if you touch a high voltage wire.

If your noisy AC persists, DO NOT let the problem go unaddressed. Just to hammer the point in, these little problems nearly always grow into bigger problems that can lead to breakdowns requiring expensive repairs or complete replacement.

We want to keep your AC running as long as possible and cooling your home through the hot summer. Let us help you keep your unit running strong, long and efficient. Click Here to download our free HVAC Repair Guide.