Air conditioners are complex systems that rely on various components, including a compressor, evaporator coil, condenser coil and refrigerant to regulate your home’s temperature and humidity level. While these machines are typically robust and reliable, it’s not uncommon for AC units to make strange sounds, which may indicate that something is awry. One such sound is dripping, gurgling, bubbling or running water. These worrying noises can be linked to several causes.
This is an often reported air conditioner sound you might hear on hot, humid days and is no reason for alarm. Simple condensation buildup is most likely the culprit. As your air conditioner performs, moisture from the interior air collects on the evaporator coil and drips into the drain pan underneath. This pan was created to catch and funnel the condensed water a safe distance away from your home via a drain line.
However, if the drain becomes clogged or damaged, water can accumulate in the pan, producing a dripping or splashing noise as freshly collected condensate drips into the pool below. If the dripping noise becomes a nuisance, locate the drain pan under the indoor portion of your air conditioner and clear it.
Also, take AC dripping sounds as a signal that the condensate drain line is clogged and needs to be cleared. A float switch should automatically shut off your conditioner before the drain pan overflows and produces water damage, but the float switch could always fail. Plus, if your AC keeps turning itself off because of a full drain pan, you’ll be forced to fix the issue before your unit will function normally again.
While air conditioners make condensate during the cooling process, they do not run on or consume water. This means your AC should never sound like running water. If you hear this water noise, it could mean the evaporator coil has frozen over and is now thawing and dripping water onto the ground.
This can happen for a few reasons, including:
Refrigerant is a crucial ingredient in the cooling process. If a leak has developed or air has become trapped in the refrigerant line, you may hear gurgling or bubbling as the refrigerant flows. Along those same lines, your system could possibly gurgle as a result of overcharged refrigerant. Always leave AC repairs to a professional who can verify the proper refrigerant charge.
A hissing noise from your air conditioner could indicate one of these problems:
If you hear a sound like running water from your air conditioner, take steps to identify and address the cause to stop further damage. Air Engineers Service Experts can detect and fix any issue causing your AC to sound like running water, whether that’s condensation buildup, a refrigerant leak, a clogged drain line or a frozen evaporator coil. Every single AC repair comes with a one-year 100% satisfaction guarantee! To learn more or set up a repair estimate, please contact Air Engineers Service Experts.
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