Photo by Fandy Much

Troubleshooting AC Noises: Rattling, Buzzing, and Squealing Sounds

Squealing or screeching noises could indicate that there’s an issue with your air conditioner belt, potentially rubbing against other parts of your unit and potentially causing damage to them.

Rattle sounds are cause for serious concern; they indicate something may have come loose inside your air conditioner unit and be hazardous to both you and your family’s safety.

You may also click here if you need help with your ductless mini split unit. Never worry again about your heating and cooling, just schedule an appointment at Hurliman, the best in HVAC heating and cooling services.

1. Dirty condenser fins

Rattling noises could indicate that your AC’s fan motor is dirty. You should address this issue professionally before it leads to further complications.

Noise when your air conditioner shuts off could also indicate an issue, often caused by compressor motion causing refrigerant lines to hit against walls or plastic bases during cooling operation. This could damage lines as well as decrease cooling power output.

Humming sounds from your air conditioning unit may indicate multiple issues. While they are normal at start-up, if they persist or increase in frequency, it could signal internal electrical problems that need attention or the compressor has malfunctioned and needs replacement (this requires expert repair services to complete). 

Other possible sources for humming sounds could be an oversized system or low refrigerant levels.

2. Loose parts

Rattle noises indicate loose parts in a device are being struck against one another and often signal motor problems, requiring professional assistance to fix them. Banging sounds should be addressed immediately, as leaving this issue unresolved could result in additional damage and potentially costly repairs in the future.

If you hear whirring noises coming from your vents, this could be caused by debris becoming lodged inside an indoor or outdoor fan unit. Rattling sounds are typically an indicator that loose screws need tightening on these units.

3. Defective compressor

As soon as parts inside of your air conditioner become defective, they may begin to collide and clash against each other, causing banging noises or rattling sounds that indicate it’s time to contact an AC professional for assistance.

An improperly functioning contactor or capacitor can disrupt the flow of electricity to your compressor, leading it to overheat and necessitating its replacement. Such malfunctioning may damage or destroy it.

Buzzing or rattling noises coming from your air conditioner are not easy to address on your own and could result in severe damage if left ignored. Therefore, it is advisable to turn off your HVAC system immediately and seek professional assistance as soon as possible; otherwise, you could incur costly repairs or even need a whole system replacement. 

HVAC specialists can diagnose and repair compressor, evaporator or expansion valve issues quickly while also checking to ensure no obstructions prevent its proper function.

4. Leaking refrigerant

Noise may also come from vibrations that strain welds and fittings of refrigerant lines. Such stress could cause pipes to crack, leading to leakage.

One telltale sign of a refrigerant leak is hearing metal parts scrape against each other as your AC runs, producing an audible squealing noise. A technician should inspect and replace fan motor bearings immediately if this problem arises.

If you hear this sound, it could be an indicator that your compressor has become damaged and internal pressure has built up inside of it. Shut off your system immediately and contact a professional immediately in order to avoid further complications with your HVAC unit.