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 sounds. Some noises — like several small pops or clicks before the warm air beginning to blow — are perfectly harmless. But others could damage the equipment or even jeopardize your health if you ignore them. Among the possible noises that you may hear, here are nine that warrant an immediate furnace repair.
Scraping Furnace Noise
The moment you hear a sound like metal scraping on metal, this could mean the blower wheel is becoming detached from the motor shaft, or the wheel or motor mount is damaged or failing. No matter the exact problem, you should shut off your furnace if you discover a scraping sound and call a professional for an urgent repair.
Loud Boom at Startup
When you start your furnace, the burners should ignite quickly and begin heating your home. A loud boom at startup likely means the burners are dirty, producing a delayed ignition. When the gas eventually does ignite, you hear this shocking furnace noise.
A small explosion each time your furnace turns on could bust the heat exchanger, a pricey repair that might require you to remove and 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 high-pitched squealing furnace noise generally signifies poor lubrication. Shaft bearings and other moving parts require lightweight oil to run smoothly. If these parts are dry, components rub against each other and cause needless wear and tear. Look into having this problem 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 hear 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 case, the sound should stop after a few cycles.
However, if the chirping doesn’t subside, it could mean the pulley for the blower motor is out of alignment or the mounting plate is contacting the blower wheel. This isn’t necessarily a safety risk, but the only option to eliminate the irritating furnace noise is to have a technician perform a repair.
Screeching Furnace
Screeching noises are clear and certain signs that the fan belt is deteriorating. If the fraying belt breaks, it could whip around inside the furnace, harming other components and resulting in a much more expensive repair. Avoid this hassle and cost by changing the worn-out belt sooner rather than later.
Constant Clicking.
Some furnaces give off a rapid series of clicks when they flip on and off. This is completely normal. That said, if the noise carries on longer than approximately 60 seconds, this could suggest an electrical problem. Don't risk your home catching fire by a faulty electrical situation; call a furnace repair professional to solve the problem without delay.
Thwapping Sounds
The blower motor should run without problems when the furnace activates. If you notice a thwapping sound that quickly picks up speed as the blower gets going, this could mean something is stuck in the fan, and the blades are hitting it with each rotation. A straightforward repair should be all you need to eliminate this annoying furnace noise and protect against 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 persists, the most likely reason is a malfunctioning blower motor. Treat this as 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 loose, allowing conditioned air to escape. These aren’t critical matters, but if you address it promptly, 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? Maybe nothing’s wrong, but if you want to be 100% sure, the easiest thing to do is to call a professional. At Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning, we have emergency furnace repair to get your heater functioning properly as quickly as possible. Be confident 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 set things right! For additional information or to arrange a furnace repair visit, please get in touch with a Service Experts office near you.