If you've had your furnace for several winter seasons, you know how it’s supposed to sound. So you'll likely notice if the system starts making odd sounds. Some noises — like several minor pops or clicks ahead of the warm air beginning to blow — are perfectly harmless. But others could ruin the equipment or even endanger 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 scraping on metal, this could indicate the blower wheel has loosened from the motor shaft, or the wheel or motor mount is damaged or failing. Regardless of the specific problem, you should power down your furnace if you discover a scraping sound and call a professional for an critical repair.
Loud Boom at Startup
When you start your furnace, the burners should ignite immediately and start heating your home. A loud boom at startup likely means the burners are dirty, which causes a delayed ignition. When the gas finally does ignite, you hear this shocking furnace noise.
A small boom each time your furnace turns on could bust the heat exchanger, a pricey repair that might require you to replace the entire furnace. Act before it gets to this point! Turn 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 usually signifies poor lubrication. Multiple parts of a furnace need lightweight oil to run smoothly. Without this, components grate against each other and cause unnecessary 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 definitely warrants investigation. If you notice chirping when you fire up the furnace for the first time of the season, it could just mean your furnace is warming up after several months of no use. In cases like this, 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 coming in contact with the blower wheel. This isn’t automatically a safety hazard, but the only solution to stop the irritating furnace noise is to have a technician conduct a repair.
Screeching Furnace
Screeching noises are clear and certain signs that the fan belt is failing. If the fraying belt splits, it could create all kinds of issues inside the furnace, harming other components and resulting in a much more expensive repair. Avoid this hassle and cost by replacing the worn-out belt sooner rather than later.
Persistent Clicking.
Some furnaces give off a quick series of clicks when they switch on and off. There is nothing unusual about that. However, if the noise lasts longer than approximately 60 seconds, this could suggest 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 run smoothly when the furnace switches on. If you notice a thwapping sound that dramatically 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 quick repair should be all it takes to eliminate this pestering furnace noise and prevent damaging the blower motor.
Rattling Furnace
A few different problems can cause your furnace to rattle. It might be as easy as a loose door cover, so check this first. If the rattling remains, the most probable reason is a failing blower motor. Consider this a warning sign to have your furnace repaired before it is an urgent situation.
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 urgent 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 unsure whether the furnace noises you hear align with these descriptions? Perhaps nothing is 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 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 dissatisfied with our work anytime in the next 12 months, we’ll fix it! For additional information or to arrange a furnace repair visit, please speak a Service Experts office near you.