Several months ago we heard a "clicking" or snapping (like a whip) noise emanating from the thermostat in our hallway when we would put the A/C or heat on. It was an old style thermostat (dial) so we called a repairman and he said we needed to replace it with a new one. We have since had a new Honeywell thermostat installed and continue to hear a snapping/clicking noise after it's been turned on. The noise isn't continuous... but it happens enough to make one alarmed and concerned. When the A/C repairman was asked about it, he has reassured us that the sound is "normal" since it's the noise created by "arcing" between the filter and thermostat. There's an electronic air filter in the hallway ceiling just above where the thermostat is on the wall. Can anyone assure me this "clicking" noise is "normal"? We are trying to sell our home and the noise has been a concern to those viewing the house. When the thermostat is "off" there is no noise created.

Thanks

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Originally Posted by kerifk

Several months ago we heard a "clicking" or snapping (like a whip) noise emanating from the thermostat in our hallway when we would put the A/C or heat on. It was an old style thermostat (dial) so we called a repairman and he said we needed to replace it with a new one. We have since had a new Honeywell thermostat installed and continue to hear a snapping/clicking noise after it's been turned on. The noise isn't continuous .... but it happens enough to make one alarmed and concerned. When the A/C repairman was asked about it, he has reassured us that the sound is "normal" since it's the noise created by "arcing" between the filter and thermostat. There's an electronic air filter in the hallway ceiling just above where the thermostat is on the wall. Can anyone assure me this "clicking" noise is "normal"? We are trying to sell our home and the noise has been a concern to those viewing the house. When the thermostat is "off" there is no noise created.

Thanks

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Dear person who may be reading I know I'm not a professional at ghost storyies but I may think it is the themolsat because it may click/snap a coule times to tell you it is turning on like a stove you turn it far back and it makes a noise this can also aoccur to a therlmastate well I hope my advice was helpful to you

Thank you very much for lisening

Are you sure that the noise is not from the electronic air cleaner, each time a piece of line or a dust particle goes through the cleaner it arcs. And does make a noise.

This is perfectly normal, when the temperature gest too low 2 pieces of metal contact and turn the heating system back on, you may hear a click of electrical arcing as the 2 metals touch. You will also hear the same click when the metals separate and turn the system off. It may occasionally click on and off a few times in a row as the 2 contact points approach very slowly. Unless this occurs non-stop there is nothing to worry about.

If the air cleaner is tied to the HVAC, and only works when it does, Letmetellyou may be right.

Everybody is free to post to any thread, but often the only answer you can trust is from the forum expert, who hasn't answered yet.

Electronic air filters can be very noisy... I think you miss understood your service tec. A little... When a piece of particle or dust goes into your electronic air cleaner it passes between very close metal plates then it gets zapped onto the cell of the electronic air cleaner. That process can be quite loud. I stopped selling that type of filter to customers along time ago because of that issue as well as others. Electronic air filters require monthly cleaning. Cleaning often can make it zap less often. But it has to zap the dust to clean the air. Noise will always be there. (I hate noise) Just a side note:
Over the many years I have been in service we have seen many trends, one of wich is the amount of dust inside of blowers that use an electronic filter. So much dust that the blower has to be cleaned many more times or more often than people that use regular 1" filters. If thats the case it would make cense then to say that the air in the house is more dirty when using a electronic air filter. Electronic Filters......They cost more upfront and deliver less. Best type of filter in my opinion is any type of 4-5" wide pleated media style filter.
Have Fun!

There are a couple of the other people in this forum whose answers I trust besides Northern Heat. Looks like we have another. All the forums could use more good people and fewer of the others. What we need is for the OP to let us know if the problem really is the air cleaner.

I think it is the air cleaner, when did you last clean it good, why didn't the service company service it. They always make a snap noise when they charge themselves, however dirty filter, pre filter and contacts will make this problem worse. On the rare occasion frayed cracked insulation and such will cause them to arch inside the unit and not at the filter changing the way they sound from what you are used to.

It is normal listen to all the service techs out there telling you.. if it happen constant clean in put it in the dishwasher if possible.. good luck

I have the same problem, and no electric air cleaner. The clicking sound is coming from the thermostat itself whenever the AC turns on or off - but not the heater. It is a LOUD click, loud enough to wake me up from a sound sleep in another room. It sounds like some sort of relay clicking. I don't know if the thermostat is bad or not, or if replacing it (they are cheap enough) will eliminate it. But I want it to stop because the noise is loud and disruptive.

"I have the same problem, and no electric air cleaner. The clicking sound is coming from the thermostat itself whenever the AC turns on or off - but not the heater. It is a LOUD click, loud enough to wake me up from a sound sleep in another room. It sounds like some sort of relay clicking. I don't know if the thermostat is bad or not, or if replacing it (they are cheap enough) will eliminate it. But I want it to stop because the noise is loud and disruptive."

I just put in a new split system and a Honeywell TH6000 thermostat. I can confirm that they still have the annoying clicking sounds whenever they cut on or off. Looking for a different brand now.

"I have the same problem, and no electric air cleaner. The clicking sound is coming from the thermostat itself whenever the AC turns on or off - but not the heater. It is a LOUD click, loud enough to wake me up from a sound sleep in another room. It sounds like some sort of relay clicking. I don't know if the thermostat is bad or not, or if replacing it (they are cheap enough) will eliminate it. But I want it to stop because the noise is loud and disruptive."

I just put in a new split system and a Honeywell TH6000 thermostat. I can confirm that they still have the annoying clicking sounds whenever they cut on or off. Looking for a different brand now. It is definitely the thermostat making the noise.

My old honeywell chromotherm is also making a loud clicking sound once every hour, or so. It is summer and the thermostat is turned way down. I don't have AC or an air cleaner. This has been going on all summer long but recently is happening more frequently.