Why Is My AC Making Sounds And What Do They Mean?

Hearing strange sounds coming from your air conditioning system can be quite troubling. If it’s a sound coming from the AC that you have never heard before, it can be quite startling and make you think something is very wrong.

At A To Z Dependable Services, we want to make sure that you understand what the sound coming from your system could be, especially since some sounds are more problematic than others. For any of the sounds listed below, our expert technicians can handle them so that you can soon get back to relaxing comfortably in your home.

Normal Sounds

Let’s start off first with the sounds that are completely normal for your air conditioning system to be making. If you are hearing any of the following sounds, you don’t need to worry. If you need to feel any more comfortable about these sounds, have one of our expert technicians come out to look at your air conditioner.

Sounding Like an Airplane

If your air conditioner makes a sound like an airplane taking flight, it may be alarming, but it’s not unusual. It’s perfectly normal for an air conditioner to make certain sounds during startup. You might hear a bit of rattling, some clicking, and then a whooshing sound from its first air burst. These types of sounds are totally fine. However, it makes sense that they would cause you concern, especially if it’s a new AC and you are not yet accustomed to the typical sounds that it makes.

Consistent Whooshing

Speaking of whooshing sounds, if your air conditioner is making this type of sound regularly during its operation, this is also not a problem. Light and gentle whooshing noises during operation are the sound of air moving through, and the sound will get louder when you are near the vents.

Loud Popping

If you are hearing loud popping noises, it can be shoddy ductwork. This means that the sound isn’t specifically coming from your air conditioning unit. If it were, you would be hearing a popping noise at the beginning and end of a cycle. If you have issues with your ductwork, you will hear popping as air rushes in or out of the ducts, usually at the joints.

This type of sound is not an emergency, but it does limit the efficiency of your system. It will not allow it to work at its full capacity and burn energy unnecessarily. You could wind up seeing an uptick in your energy bill. A trained technician can repair your ductwork so that you no longer hear the sound, your AC works optimally, and you do not see a further increase in your energy bill.

Excessive Clicking

If you are hearing excessive clicking during startup, this could be a problem with your air conditioner capacitor. The capacitor is a necessary component of your system since it starts the motor when your AC engages. If the capacitor fails, then the motor will not run. The motor not running can wind up being a pricey repair, so it is best to contact our team before this happens.

Hissing

A hissing sound is an indication that there could be cracks or leaks in the coiled tubing that circulates refrigerant through the system. There may even be an accompanying gurgling noise if we are talking about a particularly large hole.

This is the most common reason for the hissing sound, but there are a few other potential causes:

• Punctured capillary tube
• A leaky valve
• A leaky pump coil
• A faulty connection with the flare
• A rusty accumulator

Any hissing sound that you hear needs to be addressed by one of our expert technicians as soon as possible.

Banging

Banging is another sound that could point to a major problem. It is another reason to immediately shut down your air conditioner. Banging means that something is loose inside your system, and your AC needs all of its parts to function correctly. Even if it’s just one screw banging around in there, it could hit a vital part of the inner workings of your unit and compromise the entire system.

Rattling

Rattling is another indicator that something has come loose in your air conditioner. It could be parts that have gotten loose, a deteriorating system, or even debris that is hitting the fan. Whatever the case may be, you should not ignore a rattling sound. Give our team a call so that we can identify the problem and provide a solution.

Your Trusted Niles AC Team

If you are in Niles, OH or the surrounding area and are hearing odd sounds from your AC, we are here to help. We have been providing the local community with reliable and expert AC services since 1960. With that number of years of AC repair under our belt, you can trust that we have heard pretty much every noise possible that can come from an air conditioning system.

We can also set you up with a routine maintenance plan so that you can be confident that your AC will be working correctly. Not only do we service air conditioning systems, but we are also here to meet your heating, plumbing, and indoor air quality needs. Give us a call at A To Z Dependable Services or fill out our handy online form today.