HVAC sound & noise recordings:

Example sound recordings of various noises or sounds made by air conditioners, heat pumps, furnaces, ductwork, or HVAC controls & filters. We discuss how we approach listening to and interpreting noises coming from an air conditioning or heat pump system & what different noises may mean.

Sound Recordings of A/C & Heat Pump System Noises

Sound & video recordings of air conditioning & heat pump compressor noises are provided & discussed here.

Article Contents

• NOISES, HVAC SOUND RECORDINGS
  • NORMAL AC or HEAT PUMP SOUNDS
  • BUZZING AC or HEAT PUMP NOISES
  • CYCLING BUZZ HUM AC or HEAT PUMP SOUNDS
  • HIGH PITCHED NOISES from AC or HEAT PUMP
  • RATTLING AC or HEAT PUMP SOUNDS also chattering noises & fan noises
  • SCREAMING AC or HEAT PUMP UNIT NOISES

CONTACT US by email to submit your own noise or noise+ video recording or if you cannot find the HVAC noise diagnosis information you need.

Normal Air Conditioner or Heat Pump Noise Recordings

• AIR CONDITIONER NORMAL SOUNDS - split system Sanyo indoor air handler / blower unit recording

Below are recordings and comments about abnormal HVAC system sounds.

Buzzing: Intermittent Buzz Sound Recorded at the Compressor/Condenser Unit

Click the image above, or use this YouTube URL Click the image above, or use this YouTube URL https://www.youtube.com/shorts/5TRDLRGVNk0?feature=share to see the video above in a larger window.

Start tracking down the cause (and cure) of noises from your air conditioning or heat pump system by listening carefully to determine the location of the sound.

This brief video contributed by one of our readers demonstrates start-up troubles and characteristic buzzing at the outdoor fan-compressor unit. The unit is unable to start.

Some guesses at what the noise heard in this cyclic compressor/condenser buzzing noise might mean are given below.

Details about buzzing noises in HVAC systems are at HVAC NOISE-1 BANG BUZZ VIBRATE - banging, bearings, buzzing

Possible causes of this particular A/C (heat pump) compressor start-up failure noise - a repeated buzz sound include

1. A seized compressor motor - likely
2. A bad contactor relay - very possible
3. A bad start-run capacitor - very possible
4. Low voltage delivered from the electrical panel to the equipment - possible, less common, can be due to bad electrical connections or to arc-burned aluminum electrical wiring
5. Low electrical service voltage - possible, less common

CONTACT US by email to submit comments or suggestions about these noise recordings or to submit your own HVAC noise recording for publication, diagnosis, commentary.

Cycling: Intermittent but Regular Cycling Buzz Sound Recorded at the Compressor/Condenser Unit

[Click the image or the link below to play this sound]

THIS 5-SECOND RECORDING is a large 8MB .mp4 file.

Once loaded you may want to re-play it a few times to listen carefully to the cycling sounds of this compressor unit. - Ed.

Start tracking down the cause (and cure) of noises from your air conditioning or heat pump system by listening carefully to determine the location of the sound.

This brief video contributed by one of our readers demonstrates a repetitive cycling or humming/buzzing sound at a Carrier brand outdoor fan-compressor unit.

The unit seems to be running but not properly, possibly this is a hard-starting compressor problem.

More suggestions about what the noise heard in this cyclic compressor/condenser buzzing noise might mean are given below.

Details about buzzing noises in HVAC systems are

at HVAC NOISE-1 BANG BUZZ VIBRATE - banging, bearings, buzzing

Reader comments

My HVAC unit started making these cyclical noises [in the recording given just above]. It seems as if something is out of balance.

The compressor will ramp up and then start back at the normal volume, and then ramp up again. Is this something to worry about? - S.Y. 29 June 2015

Rattling Air Conditioner Compressor-Condenser Unit Noise, Chattering, Ticking, Possibly also Fan Noises

This brief video contributed by one of our readers demonstrates a horrible rattling sound at an air conditioning system compressor/condenser unit start-up.

Click the image above, or use this YouTube URL https://youtu.be/93EHI0fdfSY to see the video above in a larger window.

MISSING SOUND - I'm working on it - Ed. 

More about this class of rattling HVAC system noises is

at HVAC NOISE-4 POP, RATTLE, ROAR, RUMBLE - loud start, popping, rattling, rumbling, running water

A/C COMPRESSOR RATTLE CHATTER NOISE [.MOV file] sound recording (no image) [314 KB]

This recording of a clanking rattling sound at the air conditioner compressor/condenser unit was blamed on relay chattering though it sounds a lot like a fan noise problem.

Diagnostic details are

at CHATTERING RELAY CONTROL SWITCHES and in that article

at A/C CONDENSER CHATTER / BUZZ REPAIR SUCCESS

Also see FAN NOISES, HVAC as ticking and chattering may be traced to a fan problem.

Screaming: shrill high pitched sounds at the Air Conditioner or Heat Pump

• Jeremy's shrill high pitched SCREAMING WINDOW AIR CONDITIONER RECORDING [3.6 MB sound file]

This noise and the reader's video were originally reported in the FAQs at HVAC NOISE Group 5

where we discuss

SCREAMING HVAC EQUIPMENT or whistling or shrieking A/C compressor/condenser unit sounds - warning about high pitched sound from the compressor/condenser unit !

Possible causes of this screaming noise: we, like Jeremy, think this may be a bad blower bearing

Watch out: turn off a screaming air conditioner or heat pump. The cause could also be dangerously high refrigerant pressures.

Some techs think screaming sounds may be a refrigerant leak but in my experience if there's a refrigerant leak lound enough for you to hear it it will be a hissing sound, and also it won't last long since your system is going to lose all of its refrigerant (and stop working) in minutes.

Also see Whistling Sound Recordings just Below.

Whistle: Very High Pitched Whistling Sound at the Air Conditioner

This brief video contributed by one of our readers demonstrates a very high pitched sound at an air conditioning system compressor/condenser unit.

Click the image above, or use this YouTube URL https://www.youtube.com/shorts/aJY5aEg8Hps?feature=share to see the video above in a larger window.

Discussion of this noise is just below.

This HVAC noise category is closely related to

HVAC NOISE-5 SCREAM SING TRUMPET WHINE WUWU - scream, sing, squeal, trumpet, water gurgling, whine, whistle, wuwuwu

• The sound goes for about 7 or 8 minutes before the unit starts. I do not see anything moving when it occurs. When the blades start spinning, the sound stops.
• It always occurs at the start of the unit running....all day and all night.
• We have lived here almost 3 years and I would say I have noticed for at least the last year.
• The unit came with the house so it is 10 years old.
• The unit has no company logo on it but I searched the address and model number...I think it was made by Tempstar, a part of International Comfort Products. The model number is NAC242AKA5.

Possible diagnosis:

• sound coming from an electronic start-up component
• sound from a poorly-lubricated or seizing fan motor bearing

Check for and use (if found) lubrication ports on the fan motor & bearings (with power off!)

Check for loose or wobbly fan bearings (with power off!)

AC or Heat Pump Noisy Start-up Sounds

• AIR CONDITIONER START NOISE recording. This recording of noisy start-up sounds can indicate failing compressor motors, relays, fan motors, controls

Window Air Conditioner Noises

• WHISTLING WINDOW AIR CONDITIONER recording. This air conditioner noise recording is discussed
  
  at HVAC NOISE-5 SCREAM SING TRUMPET WHINE WUWU

...

Continue reading at NOISES, HVAC SOUND DESCRIPTIONS or select a topic from closely-related articles below, or see our complete INDEX to RELATED ARTICLES. or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

Or see NOISES, HVAC SOUND RECORDING FAQs - questions & answers about recordings of air conditioner or heat pump or heater or furnace noises that were posted originally at the end of this page.

Or see this

Article Series Contents

• COMPRESSOR MOTOR INSULATION
• HVAC SYSTEM NOISE DIAGNOSIS
  • CHATTERING RELAYS, HVAC EQUIPMENT
  • DUCT SYSTEM NOISES
  • DUCT VIBRATION DAMPENERS
  • FAN NOISES, HVAC
  • HVAC SOUND DESCRIPTIONS
  • HVAC NOISE-1 BANG BUZZ VIBRATE - banging, bearings, buzzing
  • HVAC NOISE-2 CHATTER CLANK FAN GROAN - chattering, clanks, clunks, cyclical, fan, groans, growls, honking
  • HVAC NOISE-3 HISS HOWL HUFF HUM - hiss, howl, huff, hum, groan, woo wuu wuff
  • HVAC NOISE-4 POP, RATTLE, ROAR, RUMBLE - loud start, pop, rattle, rumble, water, silence
  • HVAC NOISE-5 SCREAM SING TRUMPET WHINE WUWU - scream, sing, squeal, trumpet, wawa, wowo, water gurge, whine, whistle, wuwu
  • NOISES, HVAC SOUND RECORDINGS
  • REFRIGERANT PIPING GURGLING

Suggested citation for this web page

NOISES, HVAC SOUND RECORDINGS at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice.

Or see this

INDEX to RELATED ARTICLES: ARTICLE INDEX to BUILDING NOISE DIAGNOSIS

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Citations & References

In addition to any citations in the article above, a full list is available on request.

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