After a few years of running your furnace every winter, you know how it’s supposed to sound. So you'll likely notice if the system starts making weird sounds. Some noises — like several minor pops or clicks prior to the warm air beginning to blow — are completely harmless. But others could impair the equipment or even threaten your health if you dismiss them. Of all the furnace noises you might encounter, here are nine that are worthy of an immediate furnace repair.
Scraping Furnace Noise
The moment you hear a sound like metal rubbing on metal, this could mean the blower wheel is becoming detached from the motor shaft, or the wheel or motor mount is damaged or failing. No matter the precise problem, you should shut off your furnace if you discover a scraping sound and call a professional for an urgent repair.
Loud Boom at Startup
When you fire up your furnace, the burners should ignite right away and get started heating your home. A loud boom at startup likely means the burners are dirty, which causes a delayed ignition. When the gas at last does ignite, you hear this shocking furnace noise.
A small explosion each time your furnace turns on could break the heat exchanger, a pricey repair that might require you to switch out the entire furnace. Act before it gets to this point! Switch 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 high-pitched squealing furnace noise usually implies poor lubrication. Shaft bearings and other moving parts require lightweight oil to run smoothly. If these parts are dry, components rub against each other and cause needless wear and tear. Look into having this issue remedied right away to protect against premature furnace failure.
Chirping Noise
The sound of a bird entrapped in your furnace absolutely warrants investigation. If you hear chirping coming from the furnace upon the first activation of the season, it could simply mean your furnace is warming up after months of no use. In this case, the sound should go away 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 contacting the blower wheel. This isn’t always a safety threat, but the only choice to get rid of the annoying furnace noise is to have a technician perform a repair.
Screeching Furnace
Screeching noises are an unmistakable warning sign that the fan belt is failing. If the fraying belt cracks, it could spin inside the furnace, breaking other components and leading to a much more expensive repair. You can protect yourself from this unexpected expense by exchanging the worn-out belt sooner rather than later.
Constant Clicking.
Some furnaces give off a rapid series of clicks when they turn on and off. This is common and no reason to be concerned. However, if the noise lasts longer than about one minute, this could suggest an electrical complication. Don't risk an electrical fire! Simply call a furnace repair professional to fix the problem without delay.
Thwapping Sounds
The blower motor should run without problems when the furnace activates. If you discover a thwapping sound that rapidly picks up speed as the blower gets going, this likely means something is snagged in the fan, and the blades are hitting it with each rotation. A quick repair should be all that's required to eliminate this bothersome furnace noise and prevent damaging the blower motor.
Rattling Furnace
A few different problems can cause your furnace to rattle. It might be as basic as a loose door cover, so check this first. If the rattling remains, the most probable culprit is a malfunctioning blower motor. Treat this as 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 separated somewhere, allowing conditioned air to release. These aren’t critical matters, but if you address it promptly, you’ll save money on your heating and cooling bills in the long run.
Schedule Furnace Repair with Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning
Are you uncertain whether the furnace noises you hear align with these descriptions? Perhaps nothing is wrong, but the only way to know for sure is to call a professional. At Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning, we have emergency furnace repair to get your system functioning properly as soon as possible. Rest assured knowing that we stand behind our work with a one-year, 100% satisfaction guarantee. If you’re dissatisfied with our work anytime in the next 12 months, we’ll set things right! For more information or to arrange a furnace repair visit, please speak a Service Experts office near you.