Why Is My Air Conditioner Making Noise?

It's an issue nobody wants to deal with: You turn on your air conditioner with the anticipation of a rush of cool relief, only to be ambushed by the annoyance of an irritating noise. You shouldn't have to choose between being sweaty and wearing earplugs all day, so here are some common air conditioner noises and their causes.

Why Is My Air Conditioner Making A Loud Buzzing Noise?

Units that are too heavy, improperly mounted, or loose could cause excessive vibration and noisily bump against your walls. A solution could be as simple as adjusting the position of the louvers or, if it's a window unit, closing the baffles more tightly. If that doesn't work, the problem could be internal - fan motors that aren't sufficiently lubricated can create a loud noise and potentially damage the motor over time.

Why Is My Air Conditioner Making A Banging Noise?

A banging noise is almost certainly an internal issue. Damaged fan blades or foreign objects that accidentally fall into the unit can cause a significant amount of noise and potential damage. The root cause could be a loose piece of hardware, or potentially a compressor problem.

Why Is My Air Conditioner Making A Squeaking Noise?

Some air conditioners normally make a squeaking noise upon startup, but you'll know if the noise is normal or the sign of a problem. The unit's blower wheel or motor may squeak if it's going bad. If you're hearing a high-pitched squealing noise, turn the unit off immediately! This is the sign of a dangerous problem like a refrigerant leak or a pressure buildup in the compressor. If you suspect any of these issues or don't know the cause of a loud sound, have a professional come out and inspect your air conditioner to find out what can be repaired. Sometimes a noisy air conditioner is loud simply because it's too old or poorly made. In that case, it's likely time for an upgrade. Today's quietest air conditioners take advantage of modern technologies to keep you cool without being an annoying distraction. When shopping for a new air conditioner, take a look at the unit's dB, or decibels. Decibels describe the intensity of the air conditioner's noise. This is extremely important if you plan on putting your new air conditioner in a quiet room, like the bedroom or an office, since you don't want the unit to be too loud and distracting. To find out which air conditioners are the quietest, simply look for models with low decibel levels. The quietest air conditioners on the market emit between 37 and 46 dBs, which is less noisy than your typical desk fan.