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 equipment starts making strange noises. Some noises — like several minor pops or clicks ahead of the warm air beginning to blow — are completely harmless. But others could damage the equipment or even endanger your health if you ignore them. While there are many more furnace noises to consider, here are nine that justify an immediate furnace repair.
Scraping Furnace Noise
If you hear a sound like metal rubbing on metal, this could suggest the blower wheel has come loose from the motor shaft, or the wheel or motor mount is broke. Regardless of the exact problem, you should switch off your furnace if you notice a scraping sound and call a professional for an critical repair.
Loud Boom at Startup
When you fire up your furnace, the burners should ignite without delay and get started heating your home. A loud boom at startup potentially means the burners are dirty, producing a delayed ignition. When the gas at last does ignite, you hear this scary furnace noise.
A small blast each time your furnace turns on could break the heat exchanger, a costly repair that might require you to replace the entire furnace. Don’t let it come to this! Shut off your furnace if you hear a loud boom at startup, and don’t use it again until it has been repaired.
Squealing or Whining Sounds
A high-pitched squealing furnace noise usually implies poor lubrication. Shaft bearings and other moving parts require 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 situation remedied right away to prevent premature furnace failure.
Chirping Noise
The sound of a bird lodged in your furnace definitely warrants investigation. If you perceive 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 end 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 contacting the blower wheel. This isn’t always a safety threat, but the only choice to get rid of the annoying furnace noise is to have a technician conduct a repair.
Screeching Furnace
Screeching noises are definite indicators that the fan belt is wearing out. If the fraying belt cracks, it could create all kinds of issues inside the furnace, breaking other components and contributing to 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 a minute or so, this could signal an electrical issue. To avoid risking a house fire, call a furnace repair professional to fix the problem without delay.
Thwapping Sounds
The blower motor should operate properly when the furnace activates. 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 striking it with each rotation. A quick repair should be all it takes to eliminate this annoying furnace noise and reduce the risk of 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 verify that option first. If the rattling persists, the most plausible root cause is a malfunctioning blower motor. Consider this a warning sign to have your furnace repaired before it entirely fails.
Whistling or Vibrating
When your furnace has an air intake vent issue, you will often hear a whistling or humming vibration sound. If the whistling or vibrating comes from a vent, your ductwork is likely detached, allowing conditioned air to release. 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? 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 have emergency furnace repair to get your unit 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 get it corrected! To find out more or to arrange a furnace repair visit, please speak a Service Experts office near you.