4 Odd Noises Your AC Condenser Might Make And What Can Cause The Sounds

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4 Odd Noises Your AC Condenser Might Make And What Can Cause The Sounds

16 June 2020
 Categories: Construction & Contractors, Blog


When you step outside and notice your air conditioner making odd noises, it can be startling and worrisome. The condenser makes noise normally when it starts up and shuts down, but when you hear new sounds, it's time to investigate the problem. Here are four sounds the condenser can make and what could be causing them.

1. Clicking And Humming Could Be A Bad Capacitor

A new clicking or humming sound might be coming from a capacitor that's going bad. The capacitor is part of the electronics of your AC. It stores power to send to the compressor. When the capacitor shows signs of going bad, you should call an AC repair technician to replace it. A capacitor is an affordable part, but if you don't replace it, the compressor might overwork and go bad. A compressor is one of the most expensive parts in your condenser, so you want to protect it by keeping the other parts in good repair.

2. Rattling Sounds Come From Loose Screws

If you hear rattling sounds coming from the condenser, the problem might be loose screws or loose parts. This problem should be fixed right away because it will probably get worse since the condenser vibrates when it operates. If the fan or cage parts are loose, you might be able to tighten them yourself if you can figure out where the rattling is coming from. However, if internal parts are making the noise, it's best to call an AC repair technician to check the problem and make the needed repairs.

3. Screeching Could Be Caused By Bad Bearings

Screeching that happens when the fan kicks on and then stops when the fan shuts off could be caused by bad bearings in the fan motor. However, the problem might also be a bad fan belt if your condenser has a belt drive. Both of these situations require replacing the bad parts, so you'll probably need to call an HVAC technician to make the repairs.

4. Scraping Noises Could Be Caused By The Fan

If the fan gets loose and out of alignment, a blade could scrape against metal as it spins. This could cause a metal-on-metal scraping sound when the fan is running. The fan might also have something stuck in it that was blown into the condenser during a storm. The debris might scrape against the cage and make an odd noise until it breaks loose and falls away.

Some sounds that come from the condenser are distinctive and let the repair technician know the problem right away. Other sounds can be caused by more than one malfunction and take testing and checking parts to get to the cause. When the sound of your AC changes suddenly, call an AC repair service right away. They may even advise you to shut your AC off until it can be checked so parts aren't damaged by running the AC when something is wrong with it.

To learn more, contact an AC repair technician.