3 Fixes for a Loud Noisy Air Conditioner Unit

By | May 19, 2023

How to Fix A Loud Noisy Air Conditioner Unit 2021
A noisy, loud air conditioner can be an annoyance, especially when sleeping or watching TV.

Not all air conditioners are built the same when it comes to how much noise they make.

Some are so quiet you don’t even know it has turned on, while others can wake you up in the middle of the night.

Before racing out to buy a new air conditioner, let us look at some things a homeowner can do to quiet down a noisy A/C unit.

What is the Source of the Loud Noisy Air Conditioner?

The moving parts of an A/C unit are what make them noisy, mainly the compressor and the condensing fan motor.

While other components may also be noisy such as the refrigerant lines, the unit will usually not work if those have a problem.

The usual problem is the compressor or condensing fan motor with ways to fix these problems below.

3 Fixes for a Loud Noisy Air Conditioner Unit

  1. Compressor Sound Blanket
  2. How to Fix A Loud Noisy Air Conditioner Unit Air Compressor
    The compressor is what pumps refrigerant through lines to remove heat and can sometimes be loud.

    There are what is called Compressor Sound Blanket Wraps that go around a compressor, helping to muffle the noise that they make.
    How to Fix A Loud Noisy Air Conditioner Unit Compressor Sound Blanket

    Example Universal Compressor Sound Blanket Wrap on Amazon
    Brinmar SBUHD Universal-Fit Air Conditioner Compressor Sound Blanket Wrap (0421A)

    Most A/C units don’t come with a noise suppressor blanket, but a few manufacturers do install them at the factory. Be sure to check if one has been installed already or not.

    Installing a compressor blanket is not hard but requires removing a side panel or the top panel to access the compressor.

    A compressor blanket is made of a thick noise suppressing material and simply wraps around the compressor, and can greatly reduce the noise they make.

  3. Vibration Isolation Dampener Mounts
  4. How to Fix A Loud Noisy Air Conditioner Unit vibration dampener mounts
    Some compressors vibrate when they run, making them loud as they vibrate around.

    A low-cost way to fix this problem is with vibration isolation dampener mounts which are nothing more than hard rubber fittings.

    The dampener mounts are placed under the compressor where it is bolted to the unit, usually 3-4 bolts.

    Dampener mounts are very effective if a compressor is vibrating badly.

    Example Dampener mounts on Amazon
    JW Winco 451.1-25-25-5/16-55 Series GN 451.1 Rubber Cylindrical Vibration Isolation Mount with 2 Threaded Studs, Inch Size, 1″ Diameter, 1″ Height, 5/16-18 Thread

    Installing vibration mounts is not difficult but does require opening a unit and replacing each compressor bolt with the rubber vibration dampener ones.

    Before
    How to Fix A Loud Noisy  Air Conditioner

    After
    How to Fix A Noisy  Air Conditioner

    If you go this route, be sure to get the correct bolt size. There are many sizes and styles to choose from.

  5. Condensing Fan Motor
  6. How to Fix A Loud Noisy Air Conditioner Unit Condensing Fan Motor

    A condensing fan motor is a large fan that blows heat away from an A/C unit as it runs.
    How to replace a condenser fan motor on a HVAC refrigeration unit, heat pump, air conditioner
    These motors can make a racket noise or a loud buzzing noise if they don’t fit in the unit properly.

    Sometimes this is due to bad manufacturing or when the unit was shipped, somehow tweaked the casing the motor sits in.

    A good HVAC technician will be able to replace the fan motor and get it to seat properly, getting it to quiet down.

    The compressor motor is often simply bad and has worn bearings making it spin unevenly.

    Condensing fan motors is a job that a handy Do-It-Yourself type can do.

    Read here for more on replacing a condensing fan motor.

    Another problem with a condensing fan is if the fan blade itself has become damaged, making the motor spin wobbly and creating noise.

    Fan blades and condensing fan motors can be bought on Amazon or eBay. If you do order the parts, be sure they match your unit.

Summary
There is no reason to have to live with a loud air conditioning unit with many ways to help quiet it down.

The first step is to locate the noise source, such as the compressor, condensing fan motor, or other components.

Usually, the problem will be either the compressor or condensing fan motor.

A do-it-yourself homeowner can fix many problems, but if in doubt, be sure to call a professional.

Have you experienced a loud, noisy air conditioner unit? Let us know your thoughts below.

Category: HVAC how to

About Aaron H. Benetti

Aaron H. Benetti has worked in the HVAC field since 1991. He began his career as an HVAC installer and later began doing troubleshooting and repairs. Around 2010, he began to write books on HVAC topics, mainly tutorials and how-to information. Currently, Aaron writes many articles and posts for websites as well as books and videos on HVAC topics.

3 thoughts on “3 Fixes for a Loud Noisy Air Conditioner Unit

  1. Joaquin

    This doesn’t mention an intermittent buzz. My unit runs and cools but about every 20 seconds has a 1 second buzz. What is the likely fault?
    Thanks

    Reply
  2. Paul

    Can an air conditioning compressor that has loose mounting bolts damage the compressor because of excessive vibration

    Reply
  3. Sam

    I live In California and just a new AC wall mounted unit put in its great but loud when cooking, a sort of crackle bubbling sound,
    When it’s reached the set temp the sounds stops. It coming from inside not oudide
    It is a Electrolux
    Thanks

    Reply

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