Air Conditioner Noises and Their Causes

Why is the air conditioner making noises? There are several reasons with several types of noises linked with that.

When you turn on the air conditioner, you can often hear the sound of the machine blowing cold air into your room. 

But sometimes when the AC has been used for a long time, there are often sounds that can certainly make anxiety or worry about its users.

It turns out that these sounds can be a way to tell if your AC needs routine maintenance or expert repair, and each sound can also indicate damaged AC components.

So what are air conditioner noises and their causes? Let’s take a look at the explanation down below!

Air Conditioner Noises and Their Causes

1. Screeching Noises

A screeching sound in an air conditioner often indicates a problem with the device. Typically, this sound is caused by damage to the outer condenser motor or a faulty blower fan, which can disrupt airflow.

Additionally, the sound could also indicate a problem with the HVAC system as a whole. Internal damage to this system can cause a variety of strange sounds, including screeching. 

Getting this problem checked and fixed right away is important to prevent further damage and maintain the performance of the air conditioner.

2. Hissing Noises

If the air conditioner is making a hissing sound, there is most likely a leak in the air ducts or other components.

This hissing sound can indicate a leak in the system, which can affect cooling efficiency.

In addition, the sound can also be caused by an air filter that is no longer functioning properly or is not compatible with the AC system, which can interfere with optimal airflow.

Also Read: “How to Fix Air Conditioner Short Cycling?“

3. Clicking Noises

The clicking sound you hear when you turn on the air conditioner is normal, but if the sound persists until the air conditioner is turned off, there may be a problem with the thermostat.

This could indicate that the thermostat in your air conditioner is damaged.

However, thermostat replacement is not a simple process, as it requires an in-depth understanding of the product and its mechanism. 

Therefore, it is important to call in an experienced and trained expert from that particular brand of air conditioner so that the replacement can be done correctly and efficiently.

4. Buzzing Noises

The buzzing sound coming from the air conditioner is often caused by an unbalanced fan in the condenser unit on the outside of the house. 

It can also indicate damage to the fan motor, a dirty condenser, or loose components. These conditions need to be fixed immediately to maintain optimal AC performance.

However, a more critical thing to look out for is the possibility of a refrigerant leak. Refrigerant leaks can cause serious damage to the cooling system and significantly reduce the efficiency of the AC. 

5. Banging Noises

If the air conditioner is making a clunking noise, one possible cause could be a problem with the air conditioner compressor.

Compressors that have been in use for a long time can experience wear and tear on their components, such as bolts or internal parts, which can become loose and produce a banging sound.

This noise indicates that the compressor may need to be checked and repaired.

6. Humming Noises

A loud humming noise in your AC unit often indicates a problem with the contactor relay switch. 

This component plays an important role in activating the outdoor condenser unit by receiving signals from the thermostat. 

When the contactor relay experiencing malfunctions, this function is impaired, which can result in a noticeable humming sound.

7. Rattling Noises

In the best of situations, the rattling sound from your air conditioner may be caused by twigs, dirt, or leaves getting stuck in the outdoor condenser unit. 

To solve this problem, you can easily disassemble the unit and clean the objects.

However, in the worst case scenario, the noise could signal damage to the electrical contractor in your air conditioning system. 

Damage to the contractor needs to be repaired immediately to avoid further damage to your central AC compressor.

And that’s a wrap! A 7 air conditioner noises and their causes!

But did you know that the AC needs to be certified before being sold and distributed in Indonesia?

Yup, the AC is one of the many products that are mandatory to be certified by the SNI certification.

This is because the risk of an air conditioner might be concerning for the Indonesian consumers, as the air conditioner that is not properly manufactured can cause a failure and can even be dangerous for its users.

The air conditioner that is about to be distributed in Indonesia must undergo a series of tests to determine its quality and safety.

After all of those tests have passed and the air conditioner is met with the requirements that have been set, the air conditioner is ready to be distributed and sold in the Indonesian market.

For the air conditioner and other household electrical devices, the regulation is clearly stated in SNI IEC 19-6713-2002.