Air conditioners are sophisticated systems that rely on numerous parts, such as a compressor, evaporator coil, condenser coil and refrigerant to regulate your home’s temperature and humidity level. While these machines are usually strong and reliable, it’s not unheard of 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 attributed to several sources.
This is a common air conditioner sound you might hear on hot, humid days and is no cause for alarm. Simple condensation buildup is likely to blame. As your air conditioner operates, moisture from the inside air gathers on the evaporator coil and drips into the drain pan beneath it. This pan is designed to capture 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, leading to a dripping or splashing noise as freshly collected condensate drips into the pool down below. If the dripping noise becomes a nuisance, find the drain pan under the indoor portion of your air conditioner and empty it.
Also, take AC dripping sounds as a indication that the condensate drain line is blocked and must be cleared. A float switch is supposed to automatically shut off your conditioner before the drain pan overflows and produces water damage, but the float switch could always not work properly. Plus, if your AC keeps turning itself off because of a full drain pan, you’ll be forced to fix the drain pan issue before your unit will run normally again.
While air conditioners create condensate during the cooling process, they do not run on or consume water. This simply means your AC should not ever sound like running water. If you hear this sound, it could be because 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 component of the cooling process. If a leak has developed or air comes to be caught in the refrigerant line, you can hear gurgling or bubbling as the refrigerant flows. Similarly, your system could very well gurgle due to overcharged refrigerant. Always leave AC repairs to a professional who can verify the correct refrigerant charge.
A hissing noise from your air conditioner could be the result of 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 prevent further damage. Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing can identify and repair any malfunction causing your AC to sound like running water, whether that’s condensation buildup, a refrigerant leak, a stopped up drain line or a frozen evaporator coil. Every AC repair comes with a one-year 100% satisfaction guarantee! To learn more or request a repair estimate, please contact Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing.
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