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 system starts making odd noises. Some noises — like a few small pops or clicks before the warm air beginning to blow — are completely harmless. But others could ruin the equipment or even endanger your health if you dismiss them. While there are many more furnace noises to consider, 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 indicate the blower wheel has come loose from the motor shaft, or the wheel or motor mount is broke. No matter what the specific problem, you should shut off your furnace if you hear a scraping sound and call a professional for an emergency repair.
Loud Boom at Startup
When your furnace starts up, the burners should ignite without delay and get started heating your home. A loud boom at startup likely means the burners are dirty, resulting in delayed ignition. When the gas finally does ignite, you hear this terrifying furnace noise.
A small explosion each time your furnace turns on could bust the heat exchanger, a costly repair that may necessitate you to replace the entire furnace. Don't wait to act when you hear a noise like that! 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 indicates poor lubrication. Like many mechanical equipment with moving parts inside, they need lightweight oil to operate smoothly. If the parts are not lubricated, components grind against each other and cause unwanted wear and tear. We suggest getting this issue remedied right away to protect against premature furnace failure.
Chirping Noise
The sound of a bird lodged in your furnace absolutely warrants investigation. If you notice chirping when you fire up the furnace for the first time of the season, it could merely 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 doesn’t subside, it could imply the pulley for the blower motor is crooked or the mounting plate is coming in contact with the blower wheel. This isn’t automatically a safety threat, but the only choice to eliminate the pesky furnace noise is to have a technician conduct a repair.
Screeching Furnace
Screeching noises are an unmistakable warning sign that the fan belt is failing. If the fraying belt cracks, it could create all kinds of issues inside the furnace, harming other components and contributing to a much more expensive repair. Avoid this hassle and cost by exchanging the worn-out belt sooner rather than later.
Constant 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 continues longer than about one minute, this could signal an electrical complication. Don't risk an electrical fire! Simply call a furnace repair professional to fix the problem promptly.
Thwapping Sounds
The blower motor should perform without problems when the furnace activates. If you discover a thwapping sound that quickly picks up speed as the blower gets going, this likely means something is stuck in the fan, and the blades are hitting it with each rotation. A straightforward repair should be all you need to stop this annoying furnace noise and reduce the risk of 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 continues, the most probable culprit is a malfunctioning blower motor. Consider this 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 leak. These aren’t emergency matters, but if you address it promptly, you’ll pay less on your heating and cooling bills long term.
Schedule Furnace Repair with Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning
Are you unsure whether the furnace noises you hear align with these descriptions? It might be nothing, 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 back up and running as soon as possible. Rest assured 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 get it corrected! For more information or to arrange a furnace repair visit, please speak a Service Experts office near you.