After a few years of running your furnace every winter, you know how it’s supposed to sound. So you might be caught off guard if the equipment starts making strange sounds. 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 impair the equipment or even endanger your health if you neglect them. Among the possible noises that you may hear, here are nine that are worthy of an immediate furnace repair.
Scraping Furnace Noise
The moment you hear a sound like metal scraping on metal, this could mean the blower wheel has loosened from the motor shaft, or the wheel or motor mount is damaged or failing. Regardless of the exact problem, you should power down your furnace if you discover 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 get started 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 frightening furnace noise.
A small boom each time your furnace turns on could bust the heat exchanger, a costly repair that may force 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 do not activate it again until it has been repaired.
Squealing or Whining Sounds
A high-pitched squealing furnace noise typically signifies poor lubrication. Shaft bearings and other moving parts require lightweight oil to function smoothly. If these parts are dry, components rub against each other and cause needless wear and tear. Look into having this situation remedied right away to prevent premature furnace failure.
Chirping Noise
The sound of a bird entrapped in your furnace absolutely warrants investigation. If you notice chirping coming from the furnace upon the first activation of the season, it could merely mean your furnace is warming up after months of no use. In this situation, the sound should dissipate after a few cycles.
However, if the chirping continues, 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 always a safety risk, but the only solution to eliminate the irritating furnace noise is to have a technician conduct a repair.
Screeching Furnace
Screeching noises are definite indicators that the fan belt is failing. If the fraying belt splits, it could whip around inside the furnace, damaging other components and leading 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 fast series of clicks when they flip on and off. There is nothing unusual about that. Having said that, if the noise carries on longer than approximately 60 seconds, this could signal 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 function smoothly when the furnace switches on. If you hear 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 simple repair should be all it takes to get rid of this pestering furnace noise and prevent damaging the blower motor.
Rattling Furnace
There are several possible reasons for your furnace to produce a rattling sound. It might be as basic as a loose door cover, so verify that option first. If the rattling continues, the most probable reason is a failing blower motor. Consider this a warning sign to have your furnace repaired before it breaks down completely.
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 separated somewhere, 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 undecided whether the furnace noises you hear correspond to these descriptions? Maybe nothing’s wrong, but for your peace of mind, the best thing to do is to call a professional. At Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning, we have emergency furnace repair to get your system performing properly as soon as possible. Feel safe knowing that we stand behind our work with a one-year, 100% satisfaction guarantee. If you’re dissatisfied 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.