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 system starts making odd noises. Some noises — like a few minor pops or clicks ahead of the warm air beginning to blow — are perfectly harmless. But others could damage the equipment or even jeopardize your health if you ignore them. While there are many more furnace noises to consider, here are nine that warrant an immediate furnace repair.
Scraping Furnace Noise
The moment you hear a sound like metal against metal, this could mean the blower wheel has loosened from the motor shaft, or the wheel or motor mount has broken. No matter the exact problem, you should turn off your furnace if you discover a scraping sound and call a professional for an critical repair.
Loud Boom at Startup
When your furnace starts up, the burners should ignite quickly and start heating your home. A loud boom at startup potentially means the burners are dirty, producing a delayed ignition. When the gas eventually does ignite, you hear this terrifying furnace noise.
A small explosion each time your furnace turns on could break the heat exchanger, a costly repair that might require you to remove and replace the entire furnace. Act before it gets to this point! Switch off your furnace if you hear a loud boom at startup, and avoid using it again until it has been repaired.
Squealing or Whining Sounds
A squealing furnace noise generally implies poor lubrication. Like many mechanical equipment with moving parts inside, they need lightweight oil to function smoothly. If these parts are dry, components grate against each other and cause unwanted wear and tear. Look into having this issue remedied right away to protect against premature furnace failure.
Chirping Noise
The sound of a bird entrapped in your furnace absolutely warrants investigation. If you perceive chirping during the first furnace cycle of the season, it could simply mean your furnace is warming up after months of no use. In this situation, the sound should stop after a few cycles.
However, if the chirping continues, it could mean the pulley for the blower motor is misaligned or the mounting plate is contacting the blower wheel. This isn’t automatically a safety risk, but the only way to stop the annoying furnace noise is to have a technician conduct a repair.
Screeching Furnace
Screeching noises are an unmistakable warning sign that the fan belt is deteriorating. If the fraying belt cracks, it could whip around inside the furnace, harming other components and contributing to a much more expensive repair. Insulate yourself from this hassle by exchanging the worn-out belt sooner rather than later.
Persistent Clicking.
Some furnaces give off a quick series of clicks when they turn on and off. This is common and no reason to be concerned. However, if the noise carries on longer than about one minute, this could signal an electrical complication. To avoid risking a house fire, call a furnace repair professional to correct the problem without delay.
Thwapping Sounds
The blower motor should function smoothly when the furnace turns on. If you discover a thwapping sound that dramatically picks up speed as the blower gets going, this is a strong indication that something is caught in the fan, and the blades are smacking it with each rotation. A straightforward repair should be all that's required to eliminate this pestering furnace noise and prevent 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 verify that option first. If the rattling remains, the most likely reason is a failing blower motor. Take this as a warning sign to have your furnace repaired before it breaks down completely.
Whistling or Vibrating
Noises such as a teapot whistle or the hum of a vibrating item are signals of a problem with the air intake vent. If the whistling or vibrating comes from a vent, your ductwork is likely separated somewhere, allowing conditioned air to escape. These aren’t emergency matters, but if you address it promptly, you’ll pay less on your heating and cooling bills in the long run.
Schedule Furnace Repair with Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning
Are you unsure whether the furnace noises you hear match these descriptions? Maybe nothing’s wrong, but the only way to know for sure is to call a professional. At Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning, we offer emergency furnace repair to get your unit performing properly as quickly as possible. Be confident knowing that we stand behind our work with a one-year, 100% satisfaction guarantee. If you’re dissatisfied with our work anytime in the next 12 months, we’ll get it corrected! For additional information or to arrange a furnace repair visit, please contact a Service Experts office near you.