Over time, when you fire up your furnace, you know how it’s supposed to sound. So you'll likely notice if the equipment starts making odd noises. Some noises — like several minor pops or clicks ahead of the warm air beginning to blow — are normal and harmless. But others could damage the equipment or even jeopardize your health if you neglect them. Among the possible noises that you may hear, here are nine that justify an immediate furnace repair.
Scraping Furnace Noise
When you hear a sound like metal scraping on metal, this could suggest the blower wheel is becoming detached from the motor shaft, or the wheel or motor mount is broke. Regardless of the exact problem, you should power down your furnace if you discover a scraping sound and call a professional for an emergency repair.
Loud Boom at Startup
When your furnace starts up, the burners should ignite quickly and get started heating your home. A loud boom at startup potentially means the burners are dirty, producing a delayed ignition. When the gas finally does ignite, you hear this frightening furnace noise.
A small blast each time your furnace turns on could bust the heat exchanger, a costly repair that might require 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 do not activate it again until it has been repaired.
Squealing or Whining Sounds
A squealing furnace noise typically signifies poor lubrication. Multiple parts of a furnace need lightweight oil to function smoothly. If the parts are not lubricated, components grind against each other and cause unwanted wear and tear. Look into having this problem remedied right away to avoid premature furnace failure.
Chirping Noise
The sound of a bird trapped in your furnace certainly warrants investigation. If you perceive chirping during the first furnace cycle of the season, it could merely mean your furnace is warming up after several months of no use. In this situation, the sound should stop after a few cycles.
However, if the chirping does not end, it could indicate 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 risk, but the only option to get rid of 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 cracks, it could whip around inside the furnace, damaging other components and leading to a much more expensive repair. Avoid this hassle and cost by exchanging 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. This is completely normal. Having said that, if the noise lasts longer than about one minute, this could signal an electrical complication. Don't risk an electrical fire! Simply call a furnace repair professional to solve the problem immediately.
Thwapping Sounds
The blower motor should perform without problems when the furnace activates. If you discover a thwapping sound that dramatically picks up speed as the blower gets going, this could mean something is snagged in the fan, and the blades are smacking it with each rotation. A straightforward repair should be all it takes to eliminate this pestering furnace noise and protect against damaging the blower motor.
Rattling Furnace
A rattling furnace can be caused by multiple issues. It might be as easy as a loose door cover, so verify that option first. If the rattling continues, the most plausible culprit is a failing blower motor. Consider this 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 emergency matters, but if you address it promptly, you’ll spend less on your heating and cooling bills long term.
Schedule Furnace Repair with Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning
Are you unsure whether the furnace noises you hear match 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 provide emergency furnace repair to get your unit functioning properly 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! To find out more or to arrange a furnace repair visit, please get in touch with a Service Experts office near you.