Common causes of air conditioning noise and how to resolve them yourself

It often happens that after several years of trouble-free use of the air conditioner, it suddenly starts to make an unpleasant noise. You must admit that throwing away equipment only because of a slight crackle during operation is rather stupid, especially if it is a branded air conditioner.

Even such a seemingly harmless “symptom” can signal a serious malfunction, which can cause the ultimate breakdown of the climate equipment. To restore the normal operation of the equipment, it is important to accurately determine the causes of air conditioning noise, and eliminate them in time.

Annoying noise can also occur due to improper installation, but in this case, the first signs of a malfunction will appear in the first months after the start of operation. Later in the article you will learn how the type of noise can be recognized by the type of noise, and quickly eliminate it without the help of a wizard.

Why is the air conditioner making a loud noise?

In the absence of regular maintenance, the air conditioner begins to crackle and hum in the first years of its operation. In some cases, the air conditioner may knock even when it is turned off, which indicates problems with its installation.

The exact cause of the breakdown can be determined by the nature of the sound and the source of its distribution. All breakdowns are divided into two types - mechanical and electrical.

Even if you cannot solve the malfunction yourself, you just need to learn to distinguish the nature of the sound in order to correctly determine the type of malfunction and the cost of fixing it when you call the wizard

Mechanical malfunctions are concentrated in the internal mechanisms of the device, while electrical malfunctions have causes associated with a failure of the electronics.

You can independently understand the causes of the humming of the air conditioner according to the following algorithm: when noticeable noise appears, first of all, you need to determine which unit acts as a source of unpleasant sounds,and only then try to establish the nature of the noise.

Noise in the indoor unit

If a noticeable noise is observed when the air conditioner is turned on, accompanied by vibration, the cause may be a malfunction of the impeller engine, or the impeller itself. Also, a crash during the operation of the fan may appear due to the formation of ice accumulation, for which its blades just cling.

The presence of a sufficiently strong low-frequency sound indicates a problem in the electrical part of the indoor unit inside the split system. In this case, we are talking about a transformer that starts to buzz right before the failure. This problem may occur due to weak mounting device.

The appearance of a low hissing can signal a leak of refrigerant from the system, but if the hissing sound rises, it is better to check the unit for clogging or creasing of pipes

Sometimes the air conditioner buzzes even when it is turned off, which is more typical for devices manufactured by Chinese companies. Such a low-frequency sound does not interfere with night sleep, and is not at all a sign of breakdown.

Reasons for outdoor unit noise

A malfunction in the outdoor unit may occur due to mechanical damage. For example, this may be interference from third parties if the air conditioner is installed on the 1-2 floor. Icicles falling from the roof directly onto the outdoor unit can also damage the equipment.

Over time, the heat exchanger of the outdoor unit may become contaminated with poplar fluff, insects, and road dust. As a result of such contamination, the equipment starts to buzz loudly, which indicates a violation of the heat transfer process and a strong compressor overload.

Also, a noticeable noise in the system can be observed with arbitrary unscrewing of the bolts. Such a situation may arise due to the powerful vibration of the outdoor unit, which ultimately leads to loosening of the metal bracket mounting.

The absence of vibration dampers on the mountings of the outdoor unit can lead to a strong hum and vibration, which is a consequence of the contact of anchor bolts recessed in the wall at great depths with plate reinforcement

If the air conditioner began to noticeably make noise almost immediately after its installation, then the reason may be its incorrect installation. In this case, the problem concerns non-compliance with the requirements for choosing the location and length of the pipeline of the cooling system.

Eliminating the causes of air conditioning noise

For better clarity, we will give several examples of breakdowns, accompanied by specific sounds, and also consider the most effective ways to eliminate them. In this case, we will talk about the most common mistakes when caring for equipment, which are very expensive for users.

It should be remembered that independent HVAC equipment repair only possible with minor faults. If you understand that you will not be able to fix the breakdown on your own, then in this case it is better to contact a qualified specialist for help. Anyway, it will be cheaper than buying a new split system.

Air conditioner filter dirty

If the internal filter is dirty, not only the normal air circulation inside the system is disturbed, but also general malfunctions in the air conditioner can occur.

This leads to the accumulation of ice in the copper tubes, as a result of which the air conditioner will buzz loudly, and from its body will constantly dripping water.

It is recommended to rinse the filter about once every three weeks, while it is important to completely eliminate all dirt without using a brush or brush, as they can damage the structure

To completely clean the system of dirt, it is necessary to rinse the filters under running water, and only after drying, put them back.Otherwise, due to regular malfunctions in the system, the air conditioner may finally break down.

Freon leak from the system

Even with regular servicing of the air conditioner, freon may leak. The normal leakage rate is 2-3% per year, which is approximately 150 grams.

It is recommended that approximately every three years unit refueling. This will not only remove the air conditioning noise as quickly as possible, but also increase the level of freon in the system to the required value.

In some cases, leakage rates may exceed established norms, a sign of which is the formation of ice and frost on copper tubes and a characteristic hissing noise. Ignoring the problem will lead to rapid wear of the main parts of the device.

Short cycle air conditioner

Quite often, a situation arises in which the device turns off after 15-20 minutes of continuous operation. The reasons for its occurrence can be either an elementary failure in the settings, or a breakdown of the control board or thermostat.

However, the most common cause is contamination of the external radiator.

The result of contamination of the radiator becomes overheating of the entire system, which as a result leads to the complete cessation of the operation of HVAC equipment

The problem of radiator contamination can be solved by flushing the radiator with a strong pressure of water. Short-term operation of the air conditioner may also be associated with an excess of refrigerant in the system. So, you need to measure the working pressure in the compressor, and only in case of overload of the air conditioner with freon, it is necessary to drain the excess fluid.

The best thing you can do is to timely carry out all the necessary procedures to maintain the normal operation of the device, which will prevent its premature failure.

In other cases, you will need qualified assistance from a master who will accurately determine the type of breakdown and quickly restore your air conditioner.

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

Detailed information on how to manually remove the noise and vibration of the air conditioner is presented in the following video:

The procedure for eliminating loud compressor noise is presented in this video:

The annoying noise of the air conditioner is not news for many owners of such climatic equipment, especially if the unit has been serving for many years. The reasons for this unpleasant “symptom” can be completely different malfunctions, which an experienced user must learn to distinguish.

The article presented the most common causes of various noise of the air conditioner, which, if ignored, can lead to the termination of the equipment. The situations presented will help you quickly determine the cause of the noise, and, in some cases, eliminate it yourself.

If a similar problem has already arisen in the operation of your air conditioner, and you had to solve it yourself, then please tell us your story. Your experience is very important for our readers. You can leave your comment in a special field after the article.