A hissing noise inside your HVAC system should not be overlooked. Among the possible causes are leaking5 refrigerant lines, an internal valve leak or a serious failure with your compressor. If the hissing noise is coming from your ductwork, 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 further.
Does the hissing sound stop after a few seconds?
If you hear a hissing noise that ends after a few seconds, you may not have any problems. That might be refrigerant in your expansion valve, which is part of the normal operation of your HVAC mechanicals.
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 might notice a slight hissing sound as the refrigerant escapes from the leak. It escapes as a gas and can be a worrisome health concern. If you see signs of a refrigerant leak, power down the AC and call a expert HVAC company to come take a look.
If the cause is a valve leak, it should be repaired by a professional 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 sometimes grow louder, which can be a tell if you’re looking for the cause. You need to maintain adequate pressure in your HVAC system for it cool your home, and refrigerant leaks cause additional health and maintenance problems. You ought to get this fixed post haste if possible.
Are Hissing Noises Coming from the Compressor?
The compressor is located in the outdoor air conditioning unit, which is also known as a condenser. Listen nearby the condenser for the hissing noise. If it turns out that the compressor is the problem, this could be an unsafe situation because it is a sign that the pressure within the compressor is too much. If you hear hissing, whistling, or shrieking coming from your compressor, shut off your air conditioner immediately and call a professional technician.
Compressors are some of the most pricey units to repair or replace inside an AC unit. Compressors are the part responsible for cycling refrigerant through the system. You cannot run an AC and cool your home sans compressor. The cost changes based on factors like the type, unit size, and brand requirements. If you have a two stage compressor in the unit today, you would 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 and can’t be MacGyvered. While it’s impossible to provide estimates because of the variable costs, the expense is frequently big enough to just do a replacement in older units. This is why it’s so important to shut off the air conditioning and call a reputable HVAC company if you hear hissing sounds coming from the compressor.