If you've had your furnace for several winter seasons, you know how it’s supposed to sound. So it will likely catch your attention if the system starts making strange noises. Some noises — like a couple of small pops or clicks prior to the warm air beginning to blow — are normal and harmless. But others could affect the equipment or even threaten your health if you ignore them. Of all the furnace noises you might encounter, here are nine that are worthy of an immediate furnace repair.
Scraping Furnace Noise
If you hear a sound like metal against metal, this could indicate the blower wheel has come loose from the motor shaft, or the wheel or motor mount is damaged or failing. Regardless of 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 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, which causes a delayed ignition. When the gas eventually does ignite, you hear this scary 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 wait to act when you hear a noise like that! 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 screaky or loud squealing furnace noise typically indicates poor lubrication. Multiple parts of a furnace need lightweight oil to operate smoothly. Without this, components grind against each other and cause unnecessary wear and tear. We suggest getting this problem remedied right away to protect against premature furnace failure.
Chirping Noise
The sound of a bird entrapped 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 several months of no use. In this situation, the sound should go away after a few cycles.
However, if the chirping does not end, it could indicate the pulley for the blower motor is out of alignment or the mounting plate is touching the blower wheel. This isn’t necessarily a safety threat, but the only way to get rid of the irritating furnace noise is to have a technician conduct a repair.
Screeching Furnace
Screeching noises are an unmistakable warning sign that the fan belt is wearing out. If the fraying belt splits, it could create all kinds of issues inside the furnace, breaking other components and resulting in a much more expensive repair. Insulate yourself from this hassle by changing the worn-out belt sooner rather than later.
Continual Clicking.
Some furnaces give off a fast series of clicks when they flip on and off. This is completely normal. That said, if the noise continues longer than a minute or so, this could suggest an electrical problem. Don't risk your home catching fire by a faulty electrical situation; call a furnace repair professional to fix the problem without delay.
Thwapping Sounds
The blower motor should operate smoothly when the furnace activates. If you discover a thwapping sound that dramatically picks up speed as the blower gets going, this likely means something is caught in the fan, and the blades are smacking it with each rotation. A simple repair should be all it takes to get rid of this annoying furnace noise and reduce the risk of damaging the blower motor.
Rattling Furnace
A few different problems can cause your furnace to rattle. It might be as simple as a loose door cover, so start there. If the rattling continues, the most probable culprit is a declining blower motor. Treat this as a warning sign to have your furnace repaired before it is an urgent situation.
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 loose, allowing conditioned air to release. 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? Perhaps nothing is 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 fast 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 set things right! To find out more or to arrange a furnace repair visit, please contact a Service Experts office near you.