Why is my AC making a hissing noise? 

A hissing noise coming from your HVAC system is not something to be ignored. Among the potential causes are leaky refrigerant lines, an internal valve leak or a serious issue with your compressor. If the hissing noise is originating from your ducts, then you might have leaky air ducts. This is annoying, but not necessarily a reason to worry. A hissing sound may indicate any of these things, but we’ll try to narrow it down a little further. 

Does the hissing sound stop after a few seconds? 

If you hear a hissing noise that stops after a few seconds, you may not have any issues. That might be refrigerant in your expansion valve, which is part of the normal operation of your HVAC system. 

Is the AC Making a Hissing Sound with Bubbling Noises? 

Are you hearing a bubbling sound paired with a hissing sound? This can indicate a refrigerant leak. If a refrigerant leak develops, you may hear a light hissing sound as the refrigerant escapes through the leak. It escapes as a gas and can be a major health concern. If you see signs of a refrigerant leak, turn off the unit and call a professional HVAC company to come evaluate the noise. 

If the issue is a valve leak, it should be repaired by a qualified technician as soon as possible. The job of the valves is to help with the pressurization of the refrigerant gas and left alone, the leak will worsen. When it does, the hissing sound will often intensify, which can be a tell if you’re looking for a cause. You need to maintain proper pressure in your system for it run as intended, and refrigerant leaks cause additional health and maintenance problems. It’s best to get this fixed quickly if possible. 

Are Hissing Noises Coming from the Compressor? 

The compressor is found in the outdoor air conditioning unit, which is also called a condenser unit. Listen around here for the hissing noise. If it turns out that the compressor is the issue, this could be an unsafe situation because it is an indication that the pressure in the compressor is too high. If you hear hissing, whistling, or shrieking coming from your compressor, turn off your air conditioner without delay and call an expert technician. 

Compressors are some of the most pricey units to repair or replace inside an AC unit. Compressors are the part responsible for circulating refrigerant through the system. You cannot run an AC and cool your home without a compressor. The pricing varies based on factors like the type, unit size, and brand requirements. If you have a two stage compressor in your AC, you would need to replace it with another two stage compressor. It’s impossible to upgrade or downgrade the compressor type – your unit has specific requirements for what components are installed and can’t be MacGyvered. While it’s impossible to provide estimates because of the variable costs, the expense is often large enough to consider a replacement in older units. This is why it’s critical to shut off the air conditioning and call a reliable HVAC company if you hear hissing sounds coming from the compressor.