Over time, when you fire up your furnace, you know how it’s supposed to sound. So it will likely catch your attention if the unit starts making unfamiliar sounds. Some noises — like a couple of minor pops or clicks before the warm air beginning to blow — are completely harmless. But others could damage the equipment or even endanger your health if you ignore them. Among the possible noises that you may hear, here are nine that are worthy of an immediate furnace repair.
Scraping Furnace Noise
If 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 has broken. No matter the precise problem, you should shut off your furnace if you notice 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 right away and start heating your home. A loud boom at startup probably means the burners are dirty, which causes a delayed ignition. When the gas at last does ignite, you hear this shocking furnace noise.
A small blast each time your furnace turns on could bust the heat exchanger, a costly repair that may necessitate you to replace the entire furnace. Act before it gets to this point! 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 squealing furnace noise typically indicates 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 unnecessary wear and tear. Look into having this issue remedied right away to avoid premature furnace failure.
Chirping Noise
The sound of a bird entrapped in your furnace definitely warrants investigation. If you hear chirping coming from the furnace upon the first activation of the season, it could simply mean your furnace is warming up after an extended period of no use. In this case, the sound should stop after a few cycles.
However, if the chirping continues, it could mean the pulley for the blower motor is crooked or the mounting plate is touching the blower wheel. This isn’t automatically a safety hazard, but the only option to get rid of the annoying furnace noise is to have a technician perform a repair.
Screeching Furnace
Screeching noises are definite indicators that the fan belt is failing. If the fraying belt breaks, it could spin inside the furnace, harming 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 quick series of clicks when they flip on and off. There is nothing unusual about that. However, if the noise carries on longer than about one minute, this could indicate an electrical complication. 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 function without problems when the furnace switches on. If you discover a thwapping sound that dramatically picks up speed as the blower gets going, this likely means something is snagged 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 bothersome 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 culprit is a malfunctioning blower motor. Treat this as a warning sign to have your furnace repaired before it entirely fails.
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 detached, allowing conditioned air to leak. These aren’t critical matters, but if you address it promptly, you’ll save money 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? It might be nothing, 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 heater back up and running as fast as possible. Rest assured 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! For more information or to arrange a furnace repair visit, please speak a Service Experts office near you.