Why Your Furnace May Be Making These Noises

It’s that time of year when people start turning on their furnaces to settle in for a frigid winter. Unfortunately, when some heaters start up, especially if it hasn’t had a fall heating tune-up, there are some issues that need to be examined. A serious problem you may discover is your furnace making funny 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 probably something faulty with the blower wheel. If you hear a noise like this, turn off your furnace immediately and call Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing to inspect the furnace. There are a few things that could be faulty with the blower wheel. First, it could just be loose and if the part 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 itself broke, causing the whole blower assembly to vibrate uncontrollably. One of our service professionals would be happy to come to your home and take a look, and get you back to the silent and warm home you have come to expect.

Loud Bang When Furnace Starts

If there is a loud bang when your furnace kicks on, there are a few things that could be occurring. Two common things are a dirty furnace burner or ignitor. Extending and contracting air ducts can also create loud bangs after the heating blower comes on. A soiled furnace burner or ignitor could holdup the burners from igniting, resulting in gas to build up. When the gas does finally 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 crack. Not only could that produce a carbon monoxide leak, but you will have to replace the heat exchanger, which can be very pricey.

The other problem, expanding and contracting air ducts, is a common noise complaint for people with metal ducts. If your system is making the loud boom and it is produced by your air ducts, it could be a symptom of undersized ducts, closed 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 working order. Additionally, this will also provide improved comfort as well.

Whining Noise

If you hear a whining noise, it could be the blower belt, shaft bearings in need of oil, or even a malfunctioning blower motor. An annual furnace tune-up will help discover these issues before they become major problems so make sure you call us at 866-397-3787 and we’ll make sure your heating system is ready to keep you safe and cozy all winter long.