Why Your Furnace May Be Making These Noises

Now is when homeowners start turning on their furnaces to settle in for a cold winter. Unfortunately, when some furnaces start up, especially if it hasn’t had a yearly heating tune-up, there are some issues that need to be examined. A major problem you may run into is your furnace making weird noises – check out these furnace noises you should never ignore.

Scraping Sound

If you hear a loud raking racket that sounds like metal on metal, there is likely something wrong with the blower wheel. If you hear something like this, shut off your furnace right away and call Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing to inspect the equipment. There are a few things that could be amiss with the blower wheel. First, it might just be loose and if the component is not too impaired, can be tightened. Second, it could be that the blower wheel is broken and needs to be replaced. Or third, it might be that the motor mount actually broke, causing the entire blower assembly to vibrate uncontrollably. One of our service technicians would be happy to come out and take a look, and get you back to the quiet and cozy home you have come to expect.

Loud Bang When Furnace Starts

If there is a loud boom when your furnace kicks on, there are a handful of things that could be occurring. Two typical issues are a dirty furnace burner or ignitor. Extending and contracting air ducts can also cause loud noises after the heating blower starts up. A soiled furnace burner or ignitor could prevent the burners from igniting, forcing gas to build up. When the gas finally does ignite, it will create the loud bang you hear. This could result in a safety issue, especially if one of those small explosions caused the heat exchanger to deteriorate. Not only could that cause a carbon monoxide leak, but you will have to replace the heat exchanger, which could be very costly.

The other problem, stretching and contracting air ducts, is a usual noise complaint for homes with metal ducts. If your system is making the loud boom and it is caused by your air ducts, it could be a symptom of undersized ducts, blocked vents, or a clogged air filter. Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing is happy to set up an appointment to diagnose your trouble and get your home back to order. Also, this will also give you improved comfort as well.

Whining Noise

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