One of the signs of normal operation of air conditioning equipment is the absence of extraneous noise. The appearance of some sounds can be called normal – a quiet hiss when the refrigerant moves, clicks of the engine turning on, the hum of the compressor. When the air conditioner crackles, it is usually due to malfunctions of the indoor or outdoor unit, which requires timely resolution.

Common reasons why an air conditioner cracks: a review of possible faults

The crackling sound of an air conditioner often occurs immediately when the equipment is turned on and actively operating. Among the reasons why the air conditioner crackles are the following:

1. absence or damage to vibration dampers – the rubber gasket dampens vibration under normal conditions, but it may wear out or be completely absent;
2. imbalance of rotational mechanisms, manifested by bending of the fan impeller and increasing defects over time;
3. deformation of fan and compressor bearings;
4. improper fastening of the plastic housing with bolts, which leads to knocking and crackling sounds;
5. exhaustion of the compressor life, which must be replaced every 10–15 years;
6. natural wear and tear of the drainage pump or its prolonged downtime;
7. accumulation of dust or the appearance of rust inside the air conditioner.

In most cases, the crackling sound of an air conditioner during operation is associated with the failure of internal components: compressor, fan, bearings, drainage and other elements. They can be replaced without the need to completely change the split system. Although in some situations, when determining the reason why the air conditioner cracks during operation, it turns out that errors were made during the installation of the external unit (for example, poor fastening) or there is a manufacturing defect.
Regardless of the reasons, you should not diagnose and service air conditioners yourself. To solve this problem, you need to call a qualified specialist who will determine the exact cause of the uncharacteristic sounds. Do not delay handling, as malfunctions can progress and lead to complete failure of the device.

How to get rid of rattling air conditioner in a few simple steps

The crackling noise of the air conditioner should alert you – you should determine its causes as quickly as possible. Air conditioner repairs must be entrusted to experts who will conduct a full diagnosis and perform the following actions:

• checking the reliability of tightening fasteners;
• diagnostics of fan malfunctions, in particular its blades;
• assessment of the correct operation of the compressor;
• dismantling and reinstalling the unit if it was not secured correctly;
• cleaning internal modules.

How to fix the cracking problem: air conditioner repair tips

An ordinary user on his own will not be able to accurately determine the reason why the air conditioner is cracking. Especially if extraneous noise is associated with malfunctions of internal elements. We do not recommend disassembling the device and trying to correct anything in it yourself – this may worsen the problem.
You can eliminate visible faults on your own, for example, tighten the mounting bolts if they are not tightened enough so that the plastic body of the device does not vibrate during operation. In other situations, repair, maintenance and installation of air conditioners in Kyiv are carried out by the efforts of professionals.
In order to identify problematic issues in a timely manner, we recommend ordering annual preventive diagnostics. It must be performed even in the absence of extraneous noise and problems with the operation of the air conditioner in order to avoid serious breakdowns and extend the life of your climate control equipment. At least once a year, the internal mechanisms should be professionally cleaned to remove accumulated dirt and dust.