A hissing noise coming from your HVAC system should not be overlooked. Among the possible causes are leaky refrigerant lines, an internal valve leak or a serious problem with your compressor. If the hissing noise is coming from your ducts, then you might have leaking air ducts. This is annoying, but not necessarily a reason to worry. A hissing sound may be a sign for any of these things, but we’ll try to narrow it down a little more.
Does the hissing sound cease after a few seconds?
If you hear a hissing noise that ends after a few moments, you may not have any problems. That might be refrigerant in your expansion valve, which is a part of the normal operation of your HVAC unit.
Is the AC Making a Hissing Sound with Bubbling Noises?
Are you hearing a bubbling sound along with a hissing sound? This may indicate a refrigerant leak. If a refrigerant leak presents itself, you may hear a slight hissing sound as the refrigerant escapes through the leak. Refrigerant escapes as a gas and can be a serious health concern. If you have signs of a refrigerant leak, power down the AC and call a professional HVAC company to come take a look.
If the problem is a valve leak, it should be repaired by a qualified technician as soon as possible. The job of the valves is to regulate the pressurization of the refrigerant gas and if unresolved, the leak will worsen. When it does, the hissing sound will sometimes grow louder, which can be a signal if you’re looking for a cause. You must maintain adequate pressure in your HVAC system for it run as intended, and any leak will create additional health and maintenance problems. It’s best to get this fixed quickly if possible.
Are Hissing Noises Coming from the Compressor?
The compressor can be found in the outdoor air conditioning unit, which is also known as a condenser unit. Listen around here for the hissing noise. If it turns out that the compressor is the issue, this could be a hazardous situation because it is an indication that the pressure within the compressor is too great. If you hear hissing, whistling, or shrieking coming from your compressor, turn off your air conditioner pronto and call an expert technician.
Compressors are some of the most costly parts to repair or replace inside an air conditioner. Compressors are the part responsible for pushing refrigerant through the system. You cannot power on an HVAC system 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 now, you will need to replace it with a two stage compressor. It’s not possible to upgrade or downgrade the compressor type - your unit has specific requirements for what components are installed in order to operate safely. While it’s impossible to provide estimates because of the variable costs, the bill is frequently high enough to just do a replacement in older air conditioners. This is why it’s crucial to shut off the air conditioning and call a reliable HVAC company if you hear hissing sounds coming from the compressor.