If you've had your furnace for several winter seasons, you know how it’s supposed to sound. So you might be caught off guard if the equipment starts making strange noises. Some noises — like a few small pops or clicks before the warm air beginning to blow — are perfectly harmless. But others could ruin the equipment or even endanger your health if you dismiss them. Among the possible noises that you may hear, here are nine that justify an immediate furnace repair.
Scraping Furnace Noise
The moment you hear a sound like metal scraping on metal, this could suggest the blower wheel has loosened from the motor shaft, or the wheel or motor mount has broken. No matter the precise problem, you should power down your furnace if you notice a scraping sound and call a professional for an emergency repair.
Loud Boom at Startup
When you fire up your furnace, the burners should ignite quickly 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 blast each time your furnace turns on could break the heat exchanger, a costly repair that might require you to switch out the entire furnace. Don't wait to act when you hear a noise like that! Turn 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 screaky or loud squealing furnace noise generally indicates poor lubrication. Like many mechanical equipment with moving parts inside, they need lightweight oil to operate smoothly. If the parts are not lubricated, components rub against each other and cause unnecessary wear and tear. Look into having this situation remedied right away to avoid premature furnace failure.
Chirping Noise
The sound of a bird lodged in your furnace definitely warrants investigation. If you hear chirping during the first furnace cycle of the season, it could just mean your furnace is warming up after months of no use. In this case, the sound should stop after a few cycles.
However, if the chirping does not end, it could mean the pulley for the blower motor is misaligned or the mounting plate is touching the blower wheel. This isn’t always a safety hazard, but the only option to stop 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 breaks, it could spin inside the furnace, harming other components and leading to a much more expensive repair. Avoid this hassle and cost by changing the worn-out belt sooner rather than later.
Repeated Clicking.
Some furnaces give off a fast series of clicks when they turn on and off. This is common and no reason to be concerned. That said, 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 correct the problem immediately.
Thwapping Sounds
The blower motor should perform properly when the furnace switches on. If you discover a thwapping sound that rapidly picks up speed as the blower gets going, this is a strong indication that something is snagged in the fan, and the blades are smacking it with each rotation. A straightforward repair should be all you need to get rid of 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 simple as a loose door cover, so verify that option first. If the rattling persists, the most probable culprit is a declining blower motor. Consider this a warning sign to have your furnace repaired before it is an urgent situation.
Whistling or Vibrating
Noises such as a teapot whistle or the hum of a vibrating item are signals of a problem with the air intake vent. If the whistling or vibrating comes from a vent, your ductwork is likely loose, allowing conditioned air to release. These aren’t critical matters, but if you have them fixed quickly, 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 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 heater functioning properly as fast as possible. Feel safe knowing that we stand behind our work with a one-year, 100% satisfaction guarantee. If you’re disappointed 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 speak a Service Experts office near you.