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 couple of faint pops or clicks prior to the warm air beginning to blow — are perfectly harmless. But others could impair the equipment or even threaten your health if you ignore 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 rubbing on metal, this could mean the blower wheel has loosened from the motor shaft, or the wheel or motor mount is damaged or failing. No matter the precise problem, you should switch 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 right away and start heating your home. A loud boom at startup likely means the burners are dirty, which causes a delayed ignition. When the gas finally does ignite, you hear this terrifying furnace noise.
A small blast each time your furnace turns on could break the heat exchanger, a pricey repair that might require you to remove and replace the entire furnace. Don’t let it come to this! Turn 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 typically indicates poor lubrication. Like many mechanical equipment with moving parts inside, they need lightweight oil to operate smoothly. Without this, components grate against each other and cause unnecessary wear and tear. We suggest getting this issue remedied right away to protect against premature furnace failure.
Chirping Noise
The sound of a bird caught in your furnace certainly warrants investigation. If you perceive chirping coming from the furnace upon the first activation of the season, it could simply mean your furnace is warming up after months of no use. In this case, the sound should go away after a few cycles.
However, if the chirping doesn’t subside, it could indicate the pulley for the blower motor is misaligned or the mounting plate is coming in contact with the blower wheel. This isn’t automatically a safety risk, but the only option to eliminate the pesky furnace noise is to have a technician conduct a repair.
Screeching Furnace
Screeching noises are clear and certain signs that the fan belt is failing. If the fraying belt breaks, it could create all kinds of issues inside the furnace, harming other components and resulting in a much more expensive repair. Avoid this hassle and cost by exchanging the worn-out belt sooner rather than later.
Continual Clicking.
Some furnaces give off a quick series of clicks when they flip on and off. This is completely normal. Having said that, if the noise persists longer than about one minute, this could suggest an electrical issue. To avoid risking a house fire, call a furnace repair professional to solve the problem without delay.
Thwapping Sounds
The blower motor should function smoothly when the furnace turns on. If you discover a thwapping sound that rapidly picks up speed as the blower gets going, this is a strong indication that something is snagged in the fan, and the blades are smacking it with each rotation. A straightforward repair should be all you need to get rid of this pestering furnace noise and prevent damaging the blower motor.
Rattling Furnace
A few different problems can cause your furnace to rattle. It might be as easy as a loose door cover, so start there. If the rattling continues, the most probable culprit is a failing blower motor. Consider this a warning sign to have your furnace repaired before it entirely fails.
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 detached, allowing conditioned air to release. These aren’t emergency matters, but if you fix it soon, you’ll save money on your heating and cooling bills over the long haul.
Schedule Furnace Repair with Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning
Are you undecided whether the furnace noises you hear correspond to these descriptions? It might be nothing, but the only way to know for sure is to call a professional. At Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning, we provide emergency furnace repair to get your system back up and running as soon as possible. Feel safe 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 fix it! To find out more or to arrange a furnace repair visit, please get in touch with a Service Experts office near you.