How to Quiet a Noisy Window Air Conditioner

An air conditioned room can be so relieving in the hot weather days. especially if you have a quiet window air conditioner in your home.

However, air conditioners can also make a disturbing noise when they are having a problem. These can be irritating and unsettling. If it is not the air conditioner rattling noise, the noisy air conditioner blower, it could be the window air conditioner compressor noise.

how to quiet a noisy window air conditioner

Either way, there are many things that could be wrong with a window air conditioner to make noise. Below are some of the noise types that could be coming from an air conditioner.

Related:

Best quiet central air conditioners

how to make portable air conditioner quieter.

Types of Window Air Condition Noise and Recommended Fixes

There different types of noise window air conditioners can make. Each one might not have a direct correlation with the other.

First of all, let’s clear this. Just because an air conditioner gets a good rating independently for low fan noise does not mean that thunk in the compressor kicking in won’t wake you up at night.

Another to could get a good rating for overall quiet operation but it could give a loud piercing beep every time a control is adjusted. This could be unacceptable to many consumers.

That is to say, air conditioning system is complex in operation and can create noise from any angle that is least expected.

Let’s have a look at each noise and how to possibly fix it.

  1. Air conditioner rattling noise and vibration

Air conditioner rattling noise and vibration may be caused by the air conditioner not been tight against the window frame.

This, therefore, cause the running air conditioner vibrations to shake and lightly bang against the frame.

To cross check this problem, press your hand against the window glass, then listen for any change in the noise.

After you have ascertained that it is the loose air conditioner banging against the window, you can fix this problem by pushing the air conditioner weather seal tightly around the unit to reduce the movement.

Also, you can use shims to in between the air conditioning unit and the from by placing the shims in between the unit and the frame. This will reduce movement.

A rattling sound could also be caused by a loose front panel. This is an easy fix and simply involves tightening the screws. If there’s still some movement, try using putty to tighten the panel to the unit.

2. Noisy Air Conditioner Blower

Although a majority of air conditioners use a double shaft fan motor with two fan blades, some however also use a squirrel; cage style or blower wheel.

If you hear a noisy air conditioner blower or A/C window unit knocking noise, chances are that you have this type of fan and it making unusual noise which may be caused by faulty blower wheel or fan bearing.

This blower type usually has a  drive motor which is installed at one end is fitted into a stationery bearing at the opposite end.

To fix this problem, you will need to remove the air conditioner cover to access the fan assembly. Detach the motor and blower wheel from the bearing to replace it.

3. The Hum Noise of Motor/Fan under Ordinary Operation

If your window air conditioner is making a humming noise, it is possible the coil fins are damaged which can cause a loud hum.

To fix this problem, you may need to remove the air conditioner from the window. The coil fins are usually found at the back of the unit.

Vacuum the coils with the small brush attachment to your vacuum. To straighten the fins,  Carefully place the teeth of the fin comb between the fins in the area above the warped fins and then slide the comb down through the damaged area.

An improperly lubricated motor can also cause a loud hum, but can only be fixed if the motor housing isn’t permanently sealed. If the housing is permanently sealed, you may need to get professional to help you.

If you can remove the motor housing, take off the caps from the ports and add a few drops of SAE 10 oil to each port. Add a couple of drops of oil along the motor shaft and manually rotate the fan to spread the oil.

4. Grinding Noisy Fan

A possible cause of a grinding noise is loose insulation stuck to the fans. To find out if this is the case, turn off the unit, take off the faceplate and check the fans. Remove any foam insulation and

Also check out  this article on unusual air condition noise.

 

Josephine

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