Why Your Furnace May Be Making These Noises

Now is when people start turning on their heaters to settle in for a cold winter. Unfortunately, when some heating systems start up, especially if it hasn’t had a yearly heating tune-up, there are some troubles that need to be assessed. A major problem you may discover is your furnace making funny noises – take a look at these furnace noises you should never ignore.

Scraping Sound

If you hear a loud raking sound that sounds like metal on metal, there is possibly something defective with the blower wheel. If you hear a noise like this, shut off your furnace right away and call Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing to inspect the system. There are a couple things that could be amiss with the blower wheel. First, it may just be loose and if the piece is not too damaged, can be tightened. Second, it could be that the blower wheel is broken and will require replacement. Or third, it might be that the motor mount actually broke, causing the whole blower assembly to shake uncontrollably. One of our service experts would be happy to come over and take a look, and get you back to the noiseless and cozy home you have come to love.

Loud Bang When Furnace Starts

If there is a loud boom when your furnace turns on, there are a couple things that could be occurring. Two general things are a dirty furnace burner or ignitor. Stretching and contracting air ducts can also create loud bangs after the heating system blower turns on. A soiled furnace burner or ignitor could prevent the burners from igniting, forcing gas to build up. When the gas finally ignites, it will create the loud boom you hear. This could result in a safety issue, especially if one of the small explosions caused the heat exchanger to deteriorate. Not only could that result in a carbon monoxide leak, but you would also have to replace the heat exchanger, which could be very pricey.

The other trouble, extending and contracting air ducts, is a usual noise complaint for homes with metal ducts. If your furnace is making the loud pop and it is caused by your air ducts, it could be an indication of undersized ducts, blocked vents, or a clogged air filter. Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing is happy to come out to diagnose your problem and get your home back in shape for the winter. Also, this will also give you improved comfort as well.

Whining Noise

If you hear a squealing disturbance, it could be the blower belt, shaft bearings in need of oil, or even a malfunctioning blower motor. An annual system tune-up will help discover these issues before they become major problems so make sure you give us a call at 866-397-3787 and we’ll make sure your heating equipment is ready to keep you safe and warm all winter long.