Over time, when you fire up your furnace, you know how it’s supposed to sound. So you'll likely notice if the system starts making odd noises. Some noises — like a few faint pops or clicks prior to the warm air beginning to blow — are completely harmless. But others could affect the equipment or even threaten your health if you ignore them. While there are many more furnace noises to consider, here are nine that are worthy of an immediate furnace repair.
Scraping Furnace Noise
If you hear a sound like metal rubbing on metal, this could suggest the blower wheel has loosened from the motor shaft, or the wheel or motor mount is broke. No matter what the specific problem, you should switch off your furnace if you hear a scraping sound and call a professional for an urgent repair.
Loud Boom at Startup
When you fire up your furnace, the burners should ignite quickly and begin heating your home. A loud boom at startup potentially means the burners are dirty, resulting in delayed ignition. When the gas finally does ignite, you hear this frightening furnace noise.
A small boom each time your furnace turns on could break the heat exchanger, a costly repair that may necessitate you to switch out 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 avoid using it again until it has been repaired.
Squealing or Whining Sounds
A screaky or loud squealing furnace noise usually signifies poor lubrication. Multiple parts of a furnace need lightweight oil to operate smoothly. If the parts are not lubricated, components rub against each other and cause unwanted wear and tear. We suggest getting this problem remedied right away to prevent premature furnace failure.
Chirping Noise
The sound of a bird entrapped in your furnace absolutely warrants investigation. If you perceive chirping during the first furnace cycle of the season, it could simply mean your furnace is warming up after an extended period of no use. In this situation, the sound should stop after a few cycles.
However, if the chirping does not end, it could imply 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 threat, but the only way to eliminate the annoying furnace noise is to have a technician perform a repair.
Screeching Furnace
Screeching noises are definite indicators that the fan belt is deteriorating. If the fraying belt splits, it could spin inside the furnace, damaging other components and resulting in a much more expensive repair. Avoid this hassle and cost by exchanging the worn-out belt sooner rather than later.
Continual Clicking.
Some furnaces give off a rapid series of clicks when they turn on and off. There is nothing unusual about that. Having said that, if the noise persists longer than about one minute, this could suggest an electrical complication. To avoid risking a house fire, call a furnace repair professional to solve the problem immediately.
Thwapping Sounds
The blower motor should function properly when the furnace switches on. If you hear a thwapping sound that dramatically 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 simple repair should be all you need to stop this bothersome furnace noise and reduce the risk of damaging the blower motor.
Rattling Furnace
A rattling furnace can be caused by multiple issues. It might be as basic as a loose door cover, so verify that option first. If the rattling persists, the most plausible culprit is a malfunctioning blower motor. Take this as 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 separated somewhere, allowing conditioned air to release. These aren’t urgent matters, but if you fix it soon, 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 unsure 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 offer emergency furnace repair to get your system performing properly as soon 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! For additional information or to arrange a furnace repair visit, please get in touch with a Service Experts office near you.