If you've had your furnace for several winter seasons, you know how it’s supposed to sound. So it will likely catch your attention if the system starts making unfamiliar sounds. Some noises — like several small pops or clicks ahead of the warm air beginning to blow — are normal and harmless. But others could affect the equipment or even endanger your health if you ignore them. While there are many more furnace noises to consider, here are nine that warrant an immediate furnace repair.
Scraping Furnace Noise
If you hear a sound like metal rubbing on metal, this could suggest the blower wheel is becoming detached from the motor shaft, or the wheel or motor mount has broken. No matter the exact problem, you should switch off your furnace if you notice a scraping sound and call a professional for an critical repair.
Loud Boom at Startup
When you start your furnace, the burners should ignite right away and start heating your home. A loud boom at startup probably means the burners are dirty, causing a delayed ignition. When the gas eventually does ignite, you hear this terrifying furnace noise.
A small boom each time your furnace turns on could break the heat exchanger, a pricey repair that may force you to switch out the entire furnace. Act before it gets to this point! Turn off your furnace if you hear a loud boom at startup, and don’t use it again until it has been repaired.
Squealing or Whining Sounds
A high-pitched squealing furnace noise typically indicates poor lubrication. Like many mechanical equipment with moving parts inside, they need lightweight oil to function smoothly. If these parts are dry, components rub against each other and cause unwanted wear and tear. Look into having this issue 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 just mean your furnace is warming up after an extended period of no use. In cases like this, the sound should end after a few cycles.
However, if the chirping doesn’t subside, it could indicate the pulley for the blower motor is out of alignment or the mounting plate is coming in contact with the blower wheel. This isn’t necessarily a safety hazard, but the only choice to eliminate the annoying furnace noise is to have a technician perform a repair.
Screeching Furnace
Screeching noises are definite indicators that the fan belt is wearing out. If the fraying belt cracks, it could whip around inside the furnace, breaking other components and leading to a much more expensive repair. Avoid this hassle and cost by replacing the worn-out belt sooner rather than later.
Repeated Clicking.
Some furnaces give off a quick series of clicks when they switch on and off. This is completely normal. Having said that, if the noise carries on longer than a minute or so, this could indicate an electrical issue. Don't risk an electrical fire! Simply call a furnace repair professional to solve the problem promptly.
Thwapping Sounds
The blower motor should run properly when the furnace switches on. If you discover a thwapping sound that rapidly picks up speed as the blower gets going, this could mean something is stuck in the fan, and the blades are striking it with each rotation. A straightforward repair should be all you need to get rid of this bothersome furnace noise and protect against 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 start there. If the rattling persists, the most plausible reason is a failing blower motor. Treat this as a warning sign to have your furnace repaired before it is an urgent situation.
Whistling or Vibrating
When your furnace has an air intake vent issue, you will often hear a whistling or humming vibration sound. If the whistling or vibrating comes from a vent, your ductwork is likely loose, allowing conditioned air to leak. These aren’t emergency matters, but if you address it promptly, you’ll spend less 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 match 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 system functioning properly as fast 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 get it corrected! For additional information or to arrange a furnace repair visit, please contact a Service Experts office near you.