What is the whooshing sound from the AC indoor unit?

Author: Rubye Wintheiser  |  Last update: Tuesday, January 6, 2026

“When one of the AC's supply vents is blocked, the air rushes through the other with more pressure. This excessive airflow through the AC's ducts causes a whooshing sound.”

Why is my AC indoor unit making wind noise?

Room air conditioners have fan blades operating in both the front and the back of the unit. Over time, the fan blades may become damaged or rub up against the housing, resulting in noisiness. Inspect both of your fan blades to determine if they are contributing to the loud noises you are experiencing.

How to fix hissing sound from AC indoor unit?

The first step is to check the AC filter. If the filter is clogged or dirty, it can cause the air conditioner to make a hissing noise. Cleaning or replacing the filter can help reduce the noise. Another common cause of a hissing sound from an AC unit is a refrigerant leak.

What causes the whoosh sound?

That Whooshing Sound May Be Caused By Tinnitus

An estimated 50 million Americans suffer from a condition known as tinnitus. Pronounced “ti-nuh-tuhs” (or alternatively, “ti-NIGHT-us”), tinnitus is characterized by a persistent ringing, swishing, buzzing, or—yes—whooshing sound in one or both ears.

Why does my air conditioner make a sloshing sound?

Sloshing water sound is common for a few reasons - the first being water getting hit by the fan blade. This happens in very humid days or if the drain is blocked. The second cause is refrigerant sloshing through the compressor, which is common on newer units that aren't balance yet.

5 Common AC Noises and What They Could Mean

Why does my AC unit make a whoosh sound?

“When one of the AC's supply vents is blocked, the air rushes through the other with more pressure. This excessive airflow through the AC's ducts causes a whooshing sound.”

How to unclog an AC drain line?

To unclog an AC drain line, turn off the power to the unit. Locate the drain line and use a wet/dry vacuum to suck out the clog. Flush the line with water using a garden hose or cup of water. Check and clean the drain pan under the indoor unit.

How do I get rid of whooshing sound?

In some cases, sound therapy may help to suppress the thumping or whooshing sound caused by pulsatile tinnitus. Your doctor may recommend using a noise-suppressing device, such as a white noise machine or a wearable sound generator. The sound of an air conditioner or fan may also help, particularly at bedtime.

Why do I hear a whooshing sound?

Pulsatile tinnitus (pulse synchronous) is a rhythmic pulsing noise in one or both ears. It occurs in the absence of external sound. It tends to be synced with the heartbeat. The noise is often described as a “whooshing,” sound heard when the heart beats.

Why does the whoosh effect happen?

The “whoosh effect” is a term for the noticeable weight loss that some people report while following low carb diets such as a keto diet. Some people believe that the whoosh effect happens when fat cells lose fat and fill with water. Researchers have not scientifically proven the whoosh effect, however.

Why is my inside AC unit making a weird noise?

If a small piece of debris gets stuck the fan can't move. The electrical impulse of the fan to move while stuck is the root cause of that annoying buzz. Buzzing is also a significant clue of a potential electrical malfunction in the AC unit. Loose wires, frayed junctions, all these can cause buzzing.

What does a bad AC compressor sound like?

If, on inspection, you hear chattering, whining, squealing, chirping, or rattling sounds coming from the AC compressor, it is time for AC service. Sometimes the commotion only erupts when you engage the AC switch. Some noises remain constant. Compressor noises result from either a faulty clutch or a seizing shaft.

Can low Freon cause hissing noise?

If you hear hissing, bubbling, or gurgling coming from your air conditioner, it's likely because you are low on refrigerant and have a leak. Refrigerant, commonly called Freon, is the chemical inside your air conditioning lines that turns your homes warm air into cool air.

What is the whooshing sound on my mini split?

The whooshing sound is that valve reversing to defrost the heat exchanger, which essentially means entering cooling mode temporarily.

Why is my AC making a hissing sound?

If your AC has a refrigerant leak, you may hear a hissing or bubbling noise coming from the compressor in your outdoor unit. Since the system is pressurized, the hissing sound happens when it loses pressure due to a refrigerant leak—if the leak is large enough.

Why does my AC sound like an airplane taking off?

If your air conditioner sounds like a jet engine, this is a sure sign that it is breaking down. The problem could be a faulty condenser fan, a failing compressor, or frozen evaporator coils.

What is an abnormal whooshing sound?

Overview. Heart murmurs are sounds — such as whooshing or swishing — made by rapid, choppy (turbulent) blood flow through the heart. The sounds can be heard with a device called a stethoscope. A typical heartbeat makes two sounds like "lubb-dupp" (sometimes described as "lub-DUP") when the heart valves are closing.

What is a blowing or whooshing sound?

Murmurs are blowing, whooshing, or rasping sounds. They are the result of vibrations caused by turbulent blood flow patterns. This can happen when a valve does not close tightly (such as with mitral regurgitation), or when the blood is flowing through a narrowed opening or a stiff valve (such as with aortic stenosis).

What does whooshing sound mean?

A rhythmic swooshing or whooshing noise inside of your head that often keeps pace with your pulse is the most common symptom of pulsatile tinnitus. This is commonly blood pulsing faster than normal through a variety of veins and arteries located near your ears.

What is the whooshing sound in my house?

Do you ever hear a wheezing sound floating around your home? That's not an asthmatic ghost, it's your furnace. The wheezing or whooshing sound could potentially be from a dirty air filter. If your air filter is left for too long, it will inevitably get full of dust, dander, and other particles from your indoor air.

Why do I hear swishing noises?

Swishing sounds in your ear can be distracting, irritating, and persistent – and could be due to something as simple as a build-up of wax or may be linked to an ongoing condition or hearing loss problem such as tinnitus.

How to tell if an AC drain is clogged?

What Are the Symptoms of a Clogged AC Drain Line?
  1. Standing water near your air conditioner's condenser unit.
  2. A moldy smell around the drain or from your system's vents and registers.
  3. Water damage around the unit.
  4. An air conditioner that shuts off unexpectedly.
  5. An HVAC system that is not effectively cooling your home.

How much does it cost to unclog an AC drain line?

Flush Condensate Drain Line

The repair cost to have the drain line flushed runs between $75 to $250.

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