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 unfamiliar sounds. Some noises — like a couple of minor pops or clicks before the warm air beginning to blow — are normal and harmless. But others could impair the equipment or even threaten your health if you ignore them. Among the possible noises that you may hear, 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 come loose from the motor shaft, or the wheel or motor mount is damaged or failing. No matter the specific problem, you should shut off your furnace if you notice a scraping sound and call a professional for an urgent repair.
Loud Boom at Startup
When your furnace starts up, the burners should ignite without delay and get started heating your home. A loud boom at startup potentially means the burners are dirty, causing a delayed ignition. When the gas at last does ignite, you hear this terrifying furnace noise.
A small blast each time your furnace turns on could bust the heat exchanger, a pricey repair that may force you to remove and replace the entire furnace. Don’t let it come to this! Turn 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 squealing furnace noise usually implies poor lubrication. Shaft bearings and other moving parts require lightweight oil to run smoothly. Without this, components grate against each other and cause needless wear and tear. We suggest getting this situation remedied right away to avoid 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 several months of no use. In cases like this, the sound should stop after a few cycles.
However, if the chirping continues, it could indicate the pulley for the blower motor is misaligned or the mounting plate is contacting the blower wheel. This isn’t always a safety risk, but the only way to get rid of the pesky furnace noise is to have a technician perform a repair.
Screeching Furnace
Screeching noises are an unmistakable warning sign that the fan belt is deteriorating. If the fraying belt cracks, it could spin inside the furnace, harming other components and resulting in a much more expensive repair. You can protect yourself from this unexpected expense by changing the worn-out belt sooner rather than later.
Constant Clicking.
Some furnaces give off a fast series of clicks when they flip on and off. This is common and no reason to be concerned. However, if the noise lasts longer than approximately 60 seconds, this could suggest an electrical problem. Don't risk your home catching fire by a faulty electrical situation; call a furnace repair professional to fix the problem without delay.
Thwapping Sounds
The blower motor should run smoothly when the furnace turns on. If you notice a thwapping sound that quickly picks up speed as the blower gets going, this is a strong indication that something is stuck in the fan, and the blades are hitting it with each rotation. A straightforward repair should be all you need to eliminate this annoying furnace noise and prevent damaging the blower motor.
Rattling Furnace
There are several possible reasons for your furnace to produce a rattling sound. It might be as basic as a loose door cover, so check this first. If the rattling continues, the most probable reason is a failing blower motor. Take this as 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 separated somewhere, allowing conditioned air to escape. These aren’t urgent matters, but if you fix it soon, you’ll save money on your heating and cooling bills over the long haul.
Schedule Furnace Repair with Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning
Are you unsure whether the furnace noises you hear correspond to these descriptions? Maybe nothing’s 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 have emergency furnace repair to get your unit performing properly as quickly as possible. Rest assured 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 fix it! To find out more or to arrange a furnace repair visit, please get in touch with a Service Experts office near you.