After a few years of running your furnace every winter, you know how it’s supposed to sound. So it will likely catch your attention if the equipment starts making unfamiliar sounds. Some noises — like a few minor pops or clicks before the warm air beginning to blow — are perfectly harmless. But others could damage the equipment or even jeopardize your health if you dismiss them. Of all the furnace noises you might encounter, here are nine that are worthy of an immediate furnace repair.
Scraping Furnace Noise
When you hear a sound like metal scraping on metal, this could suggest the blower wheel has come loose from the motor shaft, or the wheel or motor mount has broken. No matter the specific problem, you should turn off your furnace if you notice a scraping sound and call a professional for an critical repair.
Loud Boom at Startup
When you start your furnace, the burners should ignite without delay and get started heating your home. A loud boom at startup probably means the burners are dirty, resulting in delayed ignition. When the gas finally does ignite, you hear this frightening furnace noise.
A small explosion each time your furnace turns on could break the heat exchanger, a pricey repair that may necessitate you to replace the entire furnace. Don’t let it come to this! Shut off your furnace if you hear a loud boom at startup, and do not activate it again until it has been repaired.
Squealing or Whining Sounds
A screaky or loud squealing furnace noise usually signifies poor lubrication. Shaft bearings and other moving parts require lightweight oil to function smoothly. Without this, components rub against each other and cause needless wear and tear. Look into having this problem remedied right away to prevent premature furnace failure.
Chirping Noise
The sound of a bird trapped in your furnace definitely warrants investigation. If you hear chirping during the first furnace cycle of the season, it could just mean your furnace is warming up after an extended period of no use. In cases like this, the sound should dissipate after a few cycles.
However, if the chirping doesn’t subside, it could mean the pulley for the blower motor is crooked or the mounting plate is contacting the blower wheel. This isn’t always a safety risk, but the only option to get rid of the pesky furnace noise is to have a technician perform a repair.
Screeching Furnace
Screeching noises are an unmistakable warning sign that the fan belt is failing. If the fraying belt breaks, it could whip around inside the furnace, harming other components and leading to a much more expensive repair. You can protect yourself from this unexpected expense by changing the worn-out belt sooner rather than later.
Repeated Clicking.
Some furnaces give off a quick series of clicks when they turn on and off. This is completely normal. Having said that, if the noise carries on longer than approximately 60 seconds, this could suggest an electrical problem. Don't risk an electrical fire! Simply call a furnace repair professional to fix the problem immediately.
Thwapping Sounds
The blower motor should run without problems when the furnace activates. If you discover a thwapping sound that rapidly picks up speed as the blower gets going, this likely means something is caught in the fan, and the blades are hitting it with each rotation. A quick repair should be all it takes to stop this pestering furnace noise and reduce the risk of damaging the blower motor.
Rattling Furnace
There are several possible reasons for your furnace to produce a rattling sound. It might be as simple as a loose door cover, so start there. If the rattling continues, the most probable reason is a malfunctioning blower motor. Treat this as a warning sign to have your furnace repaired before it entirely fails.
Whistling or Vibrating
When these noises come from the furnace, it could mean the air intake vent is dislodged. If the whistling or vibrating comes from a vent, your ductwork is likely loose, allowing conditioned air to release. These aren’t critical matters, but if you address it promptly, you’ll pay less on your heating and cooling bills long term.
Schedule Furnace Repair with Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning
Are you uncertain whether the furnace noises you hear align with these descriptions? Maybe nothing’s wrong, but for your peace of mind, the best thing to do is to call a professional. At Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning, we provide emergency furnace repair to get your system functioning properly as soon as possible. Be confident knowing that we stand behind our work with a one-year, 100% satisfaction guarantee. If you’re unhappy with our work anytime in the next 12 months, we’ll set things right! For more information or to arrange a furnace repair visit, please get in touch with a Service Experts office near you.