5 Weird HVAC Noises You Don’t Want to Hear

Many HVAC systems incorporate sound-dampening technology as part of their design.

That means you shouldn’t hear anything when you start running it. If you do, you need to pay attention.

These sounds could mean there’s something wrong with your unit.

Take a look at these five weird HVAC noises you shouldn’t ignore and what you can do about them.

1. Thumping and Banging

Loud thumping or banging sounds tend to mean something is broken inside your blower assembly or conditioning compressor. These sounds are a good sign a piece has broken off and isn’t doing what it’s supposed to do.

As soon as you hear thumping or banging, you should turn the entire system off. Leaving your HVAC system running could cause the problem to get worse and create more damage inside the unit.

Call a professional HVAC technician. They’ll be able to take a look at the system and find the problem.

2. Rattling

Rattling could mean one of two things. Either you have something coming loose in your system or there is debris blowing around inside. You shouldn’t ignore either of these problems.

If you think the sound is due to debris, like a screw that’s fallen out, try to pinpoint the noise. Unscrew the nearest vent and see if you can spot and remove the debris.

You should call a technician if you can’t spot the debris. Call a professional if you think the rattling sound is coming from loose parts as well. They’ll be able to give you some hvac tips and let you know what your next step should be.

3. Clicking

Hearing clicking sounds as your HVAC system turns on isn’t unusual. If the click continues to repeat, you have a bigger issue on your hands.

This clicking is often the result of a defective relay. It could also mean your thermostat is about to give out. Because this is an electrical problem, you’ll want to address it right away.

4. Screeching or Squealing

These sounds mean you have a bad belt.

This isn’t a big deal and won’t cost a lot of money to repair. However, you should repair it as soon as possible. If you leave the damaged belts on their own, they could break off all the way. When this happens, your blower won’t be able to turn.

In some cases, you can lubricate the belt and get rid of the sounds without spending any money at all. Call a professional if lubricating doesn’t make a difference.

5. Buzzing

A buzzing noise could indicate all sorts of things. Sometimes it means there is a lot of extra vibrating going on inside your system. You can fix this problem by tightening any loose pieces.

But buzzing could also be a symptom of any of the following issues:

• Debris inside the system
• Failing fan motor
• Copper lines are rubbing against each other
• The fan blades are loose
• The blower is out of balance
• Dirty air filters
• Refrigerant leaks
• Dirty condenser coil

In the worst cases, the buzzing could be coming from your HVAC system’s motor. This means your unit is about to die.

What to Do About HVAC Noises

Whenever you hear a sound coming from your HVAC system that shouldn’t be there, call an HVAC professional. They’ll be able to diagnose the problem and let you know how to fix it. Don’t ignore the HVAC noises. This will make the problems worse and more expensive to handle later.

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