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 noises. Some noises — like a few small pops or clicks ahead of the warm air beginning to blow — are completely harmless. But others could affect the equipment or even jeopardize your health if you neglect them. While there are many more furnace noises to consider, here are nine that are worthy of an immediate furnace repair.
Scraping Furnace Noise
When you hear a sound like metal against metal, this could suggest the blower wheel has loosened from the motor shaft, or the wheel or motor mount is damaged or failing. Regardless of the precise problem, you should power down your furnace if you hear a scraping sound and call a professional for an emergency repair.
Loud Boom at Startup
When you fire up your furnace, the burners should ignite immediately and begin heating your home. A loud boom at startup probably means the burners are dirty, causing a delayed ignition. When the gas eventually does ignite, you hear this shocking furnace noise.
A small boom each time your furnace turns on could crack the heat exchanger, a costly repair that might require you to switch out the entire furnace. Don’t let it come to this! Shut 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 high-pitched squealing furnace noise typically signifies poor lubrication. Like many mechanical equipment with moving parts inside, they need lightweight oil to function smoothly. If the parts are not lubricated, components rub against each other and cause needless wear and tear. Look into having this issue remedied right away to protect against premature furnace failure.
Chirping Noise
The sound of a bird caught in your furnace definitely warrants investigation. If you hear chirping during the first furnace cycle of the season, it could simply mean your furnace is warming up after an extended period of no use. In this case, the sound should end after a few cycles.
However, if the chirping continues, it could imply the pulley for the blower motor is out of alignment or the mounting plate is contacting the blower wheel. This isn’t always a safety threat, but the only option to stop the annoying furnace noise is to have a technician perform a repair.
Screeching Furnace
Screeching noises are definite indicators that the fan belt is wearing out. If the fraying belt breaks, it could create all kinds of issues inside the furnace, damaging other components and contributing to a much more expensive repair. You can protect yourself from this unexpected expense by exchanging the worn-out belt sooner rather than later.
Constant 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 persists longer than about one minute, this could suggest an electrical complication. Don't risk an electrical fire! Simply call a furnace repair professional to correct the problem promptly.
Thwapping Sounds
The blower motor should operate properly when the furnace turns on. If you notice a thwapping sound that quickly picks up speed as the blower gets going, this is a strong indication that something is caught in the fan, and the blades are hitting it with each rotation. A quick repair should be all that's required to stop this bothersome furnace noise and prevent damaging the blower motor.
Rattling Furnace
A rattling furnace can be caused by multiple issues. 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 declining blower motor. Consider this a warning sign to have your furnace repaired before it breaks down completely.
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 separated somewhere, allowing conditioned air to escape. These aren’t critical matters, but if you fix it soon, you’ll spend less on your heating and cooling bills in the long run.
Schedule Furnace Repair with Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning
Are you undecided whether the furnace noises you hear match these descriptions? It might be nothing, 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 performing properly as quickly as possible. Feel safe knowing that we stand behind our work with a one-year, 100% satisfaction guarantee. If you’re disappointed with our work anytime in the next 12 months, we’ll fix it! To find out more or to arrange a furnace repair visit, please get in touch with a Service Experts office near you.