How To Fix and Stop Air Conditioner Noise

Air Conditioning
Bathrooms
Cabinets
Carpet
Chimneys
Concrete
Countertops
Decks
Decorating
Doors
Driveways
Drywall
Electrical
Energy Savings
Fences
Fireplaces
Floors
Gardens
Garage Doors
Gutters
Heating
Insects
Inspections
Insulation
Kitchen
Landscaping
Lawns
Lighting
Miscellaneous
Painting/Staining
Patio
Plumbing
Remodeling
Retaining Walls
Roofing
Security Systems
Siding
Stucco
Trade Shows
Wallpaper
Windows

How To Fix A Noisy Air Conditioner

Ryan S. from Portland, ME wrote:

Dear DIY Today,

I have a portable window mount air conditioner set up. Sometimes it runs okay and at other times it makes a lot of noise. I've tried to fix the noise coming from my air conditioner but it always comes back. I believe it's caused by excessive vibrating. Do you have any suggestions?

There are many reasons why an air condition produces noise. Sometimes loose hardware is the culprit. Air conditioner noise could be caused from the refrigerant tubing that has a bend in it that produces rattling because it's too close to other parts of the air conditioner.

You can correct this by carefully bending it back into it's original place. Take a look at the unit and see if there are any loose parts that could be banging around causing the noise. It may be the fan blades have gotten bent over time. To remedy this simply bend them back to their original position.

Is you portable air conditioner mounted properly in the window? While the unit is making noise and rattling carefully apply pressure to the window sash and listen for any changes in the sound. This can be remedied by inserting shims between the air conditioner frame and the sash. Another good idea is to check the screws on the front panel of your air conditioner. If loose they'll need to be tightened.

There may be more serious problems that would require a service technician such as compressor issues. Refrigerant floodback occurs when the liquid enters into the compressor crankcase. This noise would usually occur when the compressor starts up. Another issue could be oil leaks causing a low oil level in the compressor but it would probably be pretty rare.

Ryan, it's most likely the way your air conditioner is mounted that is causing it to make noise. Experiment with the shims and I'll bet it goes away. Remember to unplug it from your electrical outlet before attempting to do any internal work on it.

Related Advice and Tips: