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AC making noise

Different noises from your AC point to different problems. Here's what they usually mean.

Before anything — check these

If any of these are true, stop and get professional help now:

Tick what you've checked. Only do homeowner-safe actions.

Cause	Likelihood	Severity	Cost
Loose or rattling parts	high	Low	$50–$250
Fan or motor issue	medium	Medium	$150–$600
Refrigerant (hissing/bubbling)	medium	Medium	$200–$1,500
Compressor (loud grinding)	low	High	$1,500–$3,000

Minor rattling may be a loose panel. Loud grinding or a burning smell means shut it off and call a technician.

Most AC repairs are well under a quarter of a replacement. Here's what common repairs typically cost.

Your AC is running but the house isn't getting cooler. The cause is usually simple — and often fixable before you call a pro.

Once you know roughly what's wrong, size the job and get a cost range: