As East Tennessee heads into the dog days of summer, your air conditioning unit has likely put in a lot of work this season. As such, you may have recently noticed that your indoor or outdoor air conditioning unit is louder than usual, leaving you to ask, “why is my air conditioner so loud?” While some AC units are naturally louder than others, there are several reasons why your AC unit is louder than usual, ranging from minor issues to causes that need to be fixed right away. In this article, we’ll walk you through the more common reasons for a loud AC and how they can be fixed by a heating and air expert. Here are the top 6 answers to the question, “why is my air conditioner so loud?”
Cause #1: Refrigerant Leak
Refrigerant leaks are a common issue with AC units. If you have an HVAC unit that is making a hissing noise, this could be the likely culprit. With refrigerant leaks, the hissing sound will usually emanate from the AC compressor. This could also mean that the pressure in your system has become too high. Refrigerant leaks are harmful to the environment, and they can lead to your compressor making a screeching sound, which is a much larger and more expensive problem to fix. If you experience this noise coming from your air conditioner, it needs to be addressed immediately by an HVAC technician. Disconnect the power to your unit and contact an HVAC repair company right away.
Cause #2: Bad Ductwork
A hissing or whistling noise may also be caused by a hole in your ductwork. Air leaks in your ductwork are relatively easy to locate and occur due to improper sealing or normal deterioration over time. If the hissing sound sounds like it is coming from your walls, this is a surefire clue that you need to have the ductwork repaired or replaced. You should get ductwork holes fixed as soon as possible as they will significantly increase your heating and cooling bill, due to wasted energy.
Ductwork can also cause loud popping sounds, which can be attributed to cold metal ducts expanding when you first turn on the heat after a long period. This is quite normal when switching on the heat for the first time during the cold season, but if it doesn’t go away after a few days, you should contact an HVAC technician to further diagnose the problem.
Cause #3: Fan Motors
When fan motors begin to have problems, they will typically produce a loud rattling or buzzing noise. This sound will come from the condenser unit. To diagnose the cause of the rattling, check the condensing unit, and see if you can see loose stones or debris caught inside the unit. Rattling can also indicate a loose or unbalanced fan blade string on the side of the housing unit. If your condensing unit makes a loud buzzing noise when on, then this is a sign that your fan motor has reached the end of its life and will need to be replaced by a technician.
Cause #4: Compressor Malfunction
Problems with your compressor can produce loud buzzing or clicking sounds. If the air compressor is frozen due to a refrigerant leak, it will create a louder than normal buzzing sound, although this could simply be a loose part vibrating. Frequent clicking coming from the outside AC unit can also be linked to a bad compressor and should be investigated further by a trained HVAC technician.
Cause #5: Air Handler Malfunction
Problems with your HVAC air handler will produce a hissing or gurgling noise. This issue could derive from several problems ranging from a refrigerant leak to an evaporator cooler that is not working correctly. A technician will be able to diagnose what is causing the issue and repair the malfunctioning component.
Cause #6: Bad Blower Fan Belt
The blower fan belt is one of the hardest working parts of your AC unit. It connects the motor pulley to the blower wheel and powers the pushing of air throughout your system. If your air conditioner is squealing or screeching, it could be a sign that your fan belt needs to be replaced.
Emergency Heating and Air Repair in Knoxville
The good news is that, if caught early, most uncommon noises coming from your home’s heating and air system can be repaired quickly and easily by a trained technician. The key takeaway here is not to wait to contact an HVAC repair company, or you could pay a lot more to replace other parts.
Furthermore, no matter the cause of the loud noises coming from your air conditioner, City Heating and Air has the experience and knowledge to diagnose, find, and fix the root cause of your noisy HVAC unit. Our maintenance plans can help avoid these problems altogether. Still, we also offer 24/7 emergency HVAC service to help keep your family comfortable, even in the face of a repair that has to be performed immediately.
Contact us day or night online or by calling (865) 938-1005. We’re standing by to install, maintain, build, and service your HVAC systems.