why is my ac unit making noise

Heat pumps do make strange loud noises especially in the wintertime. It's just the nature of the beast. i.e., heat pumps have reversing valves that reverse (or shifts) the flow of refrigeration between the heating and cooling modes. This occurs every time the unit goes into the "defrost cycle". When this shifting occurs, there is a loud "swooshing" sound, which usually lasts for several seconds. The "swooshing" sound is sometimes followed by a somewhat louder than normal compressor noise as it shuts down to allow the refrigerant pressures to equalize. All these noises are perfectly normal. Another common sound is present whenever the outside condenser turns "off" or "on". For a few seconds it sounds like an out of balance washing machine. Sometimes customers note a "buzzing" sound from the outdoor unit. even when it's not running. This is usually the reversing valve's solenoid coil. It's low voltage (only 24 volts) so it's really not wasting energy. If you hear a metal to metal sound or a persistent "thumping" sound, check the fan blade of the compressor to see if the blade can be hitting something (ice, wire, twig).
Shut the unit off, immediately as this not only will ruin the fan blade by throwing it "out of balance" but if allowed to persist, ruin the fan motor as well. And there is always "vibration" noise. Sometimes its only a matter of installing (or replacing) isolation pads. Sometimes the refrigerant lines are strapped too tight. Sometimes it is the unit itself and cannot be eliminated. can be addressed or fixed by the homeowner. red usually require a service call. Outdoor unit iced up-weather related Fan blades hitting some obstruction Vibration due to out of balanced fan blade Vibration due to loose parts Vibration due to piping strapped too tight Low refrigerant charge (gurgling noise) Defective reversing valve-makes hissing sound Out of balanced or bent fan blades Buzzing contactor or solenoid coil The company You Choose To Install and Service Your System Will Determine The Degree of Comfort and Satisfaction You Enjoy. Excerpts of the preceding information has been compiled by Hannabery HVAC, which has graciously permitted us to include them on this web site as a service for all homeowners.
These "Common HVAC Problems" are provided FREE and as a consequence Climatemakers does not assume any liability resulting from any information we provide. When the summer heat descends upon North Carolina, all our neighbors in Raleigh and Durham want to do is relax in a cool, air conditioned home. But what happens when the source of their relief, their air conditioner, starts making weird noises? 2 hvac unitsThat’s not so relaxing!what size ac unit do i need for 2000 sq ft It’s not uncommon for air conditioners to make a variety of strange sounds. 2 ton window air conditionerWhat’s important is the type of sounds that your air conditioner is making, since each sound can indicate a different issue. To learn more about why your AC is making that weird sound (and how to make it stop), read on.
If your unit is making a high pitched squealing noise, the issue is usually either the belt connecting the motor to the blower has slipped or the bearings on your condenser fan’s motor. Most newer air conditioners don’t use a belt system, so if your unit is older, that is likely the problem. If this is the case, you’ll hear the sound both inside of your home and outside of your home. If this issue sounds like what you’re experiencing, the belt will need to be replaced. If you have a newer unit, it’s more likely that the issue is the bearings on your condenser fan’s motor. Newer units utilize direct-drive motors without belts, which pull air across the condenser coils in your compressor. If this is the case for your air conditioner, you may hear squealing or grinding from your outdoor unit, which indicates that the motor needs to be replaced. With both of the issues outlined above, we would advise you to call a professional to repair your air conditioner. Give our team at Air Experts a call today at 919-480-2727 and we’ll fix your system right away.
If you hear loud buzzing noises coming from your air conditioner, it’s very likely that it is malfunctioning. Typically, the issue is either loose parts, missing or broken isolation feet, refrigerant leaks, or a malfunctioning compressor. All of the parts of your air conditioner work together to keep your home cool in warm temperatures. So, if one part comes loose, it puts extra stress on the other parts. After extra wear puts enough stress on those parts, your unit can start making a buzzing sound that indicates a need for repair. Your unit’s compressor sits on small rubber feet called “isolation feet” at the base of the air conditioner. After you’ve been using your air conditioning for a while, those feet can disintegrate or crack, which makes the compressor lose balance and start to make a buzzing noise when in use. As they’re being used to cool your home, air conditioning units can actually freeze up—this may sound counterintuitive, but it’s true!
Your AC can become frozen if refrigerant begins to leak from the unit, which often begins emitting a buzzing sound as a result. Finally, the issue at hand could be a malfunctioning compressor, which is the part of the unit that pressurizes and cools down the refrigerant that then cools your home. A buzzing noise may mean that your compressor isn’t working correctly or that the electrical voltage of your unit is not right. For any of the issues listed above, it’s best to call a professional to resolve the problem rather than put yourself at risk. Our team of professional heating and cooling specialists at Air Experts can fix your AC right away—just give us a call at 919-480-2727.The summer season is almost upon us, which means the heat is shutting off and very soon the air conditioning will be kicking on. When the summer heat is in full swing the last thing that homeowners want to hear is that funny noise coming from their A/C unit. For the most part air conditioning units are relatively quiet, so when you hear a noise coming from your unit you are going to want to pay attention.
Noises are a good indication that something has either broken or is on the way to breaking.  Nobody wants to be stuck in Toronto’s mid-summer heat without air conditioning. When dealing with a problem with your A/C unit, calling a professional is always the recommended advice as you can damage your unit if you are unsure of what you are doing, or even worse hurt yourself. If you decide to look into the noise yourself here are some places to start: Remember to always disconnect the Power to your Unit before attempting any repairs or adjustments to your unit. Loose hardware– Rattling sounds can be the result of loose screws or other hardware. Over time the vibrations of the unit can cause screws to come loose or unattached. Then when the air kicks on it causes the loose or unattached piece to shake and rattle around. Many times this can be quickly fixed with a little work with your screwdriver. Fan – If you are hearing a rattling, banging or slight humming sound coming from your fan it could be as simple as dirty fan or damaged fan blades.
Turn off your unit and take a look inside, clean out any debris that you find and look over the blades. If they are not straight or have small dents it can cause the fan to be off balance, possibly resulting in the noise you are hearing. Hissing sounds – A hissing sound coming from your A/C unit can be a serious problem. Hissing sounds can be the result of a refrigerant leak or high levels of pressure inside of your unit. If you hear hissing from your A/C unit is best to shut it off and call in the professionals. Loose mounts – Clanking and rattling sounds from the compressor can be the result of a loose internal mount. You will want to address this noise to prevent further damage because this sound could indicate that the motor has come loose. Bearings – If you hear a mild squeaking from your air conditioner it is most likely a bearing that is in need of lubricant. While this is something that you can take care of on your own you will want to consult your manual to make sure that you are using the proper lubrication.