Why Your Furnace May Be Making These Noises

It’s that time of year when families start turning on their furnaces to settle in for a frigid winter. Unfortunately, when some heating systems start up, especially if it hasn’t received a yearly heating tune-up, there are some troubles that need to be assessed. A serious problem you may encounter is your furnace making weird noises – check out these furnace noises you should never ignore.

Scraping Sound

If you hear a loud raking noise that sounds like metal on metal, there is likely something defective with the blower wheel. If you hear a noise like this, power off your furnace right away and call Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing to inspect the system. There are a couple things that could be wrong with the blower wheel. First, it might just be loose and if the piece is not too impaired, can be tightened. Second, it may be that the blower wheel is broken and will require replacement. Or third, it might be that the motor mount actually broke, causing the complete blower assembly to shake uncontrollably. One of our service experts would be happy to come over and take a look, and get you back to the noiseless and cozy home you have come to love.

Loud Bang When Furnace Starts

If there is a loud bang when your furnace turns on, there are a handful of things that could be going on. Two general problems are a dirty furnace burner or ignitor. Expanding and contracting air ducts can also cause loud noises after the furnace blower turns on. A dirty furnace burner or ignitor could holdup the burners from igniting, forcing gas to build up. When the gas finally ignites, it will create the loud bang you hear. This could cause a safety issue, especially if one of those small explosions caused the heat exchanger to crack. Not only could that produce a carbon monoxide leak, but you’d end up having to replace the heat exchanger, which can be very expensive.

The other problem, extending and contracting air ducts, is a common noise complaint for homes with metal ducts. If your equipment is making the loud bang and it is a result of your air ducts, it could be an indication of undersized ducts, blocked vents, or a clogged air filter. Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing is happy to visit your home to diagnose your trouble and get your home back in shape for the winter. Ultimately, this will also provide improved comfort as well.

Whining Noise

If you hear a squealing sound, it could be the blower belt, shaft bearings in need of oil, or even a malfunctioning blower motor. A seasonal system tune-up will help find these issues before they become big problems so make sure you give us a call at 866-397-3787 and we’ll make sure your furnace is ready to keep you safe and comfortable all winter long.