Over time, when you fire up your furnace, you know how it’s supposed to sound. So it will likely catch your attention if the equipment starts making weird sounds. Some noises — like several faint 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. While there are many more furnace noises to consider, here are nine that justify an immediate furnace repair.
Scraping Furnace Noise
When you hear a sound like metal against metal, this could mean the blower wheel has loosened from the motor shaft, or the wheel or motor mount has broken. No matter the exact problem, you should power down your furnace if you notice a scraping sound and call a professional for an critical repair.
Loud Boom at Startup
When your furnace starts up, the burners should ignite quickly and begin heating your home. A loud boom at startup probably means the burners are dirty, producing a delayed ignition. When the gas at last does ignite, you hear this scary furnace noise.
A small blast each time your furnace turns on could bust the heat exchanger, a pricey repair that may force you to switch out the entire furnace. Don't wait to act when you hear a noise like that! Switch 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 squealing furnace noise generally indicates poor lubrication. Multiple parts of a furnace need lightweight oil to function smoothly. If the parts are not lubricated, components rub against each other and cause unnecessary wear and tear. Look into having this situation remedied right away to protect against premature furnace failure.
Chirping Noise
The sound of a bird lodged in your furnace definitely warrants investigation. If you hear 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 this situation, 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 crooked or the mounting plate is contacting the blower wheel. This isn’t necessarily a safety risk, but the only solution to get rid of the annoying furnace noise is to have a technician conduct a repair.
Screeching Furnace
Screeching noises are definite indicators that the fan belt is deteriorating. If the fraying belt breaks, it could whip around inside the furnace, breaking other components and leading to a much more expensive repair. Avoid this hassle and cost by exchanging the worn-out belt sooner rather than later.
Continual Clicking.
Some furnaces give off a quick series of clicks when they flip on and off. This is common and no reason to be concerned. Having said that, if the noise lasts longer than about one minute, this could suggest an electrical complication. To avoid risking a house fire, call a furnace repair professional to fix the problem without delay.
Thwapping Sounds
The blower motor should perform without problems when the furnace switches on. If you discover a thwapping sound that quickly picks up speed as the blower gets going, this could mean something is caught in the fan, and the blades are hitting it with each rotation. A quick repair should be all you need to get rid of 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 persists, the most probable reason 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
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 detached, allowing conditioned air to escape. These aren’t critical matters, but if you fix it soon, you’ll spend less on your heating and cooling bills long term.
Schedule Furnace Repair with Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning
Are you undecided whether the furnace noises you hear align with these descriptions? It might be nothing, but for your peace of mind, the best thing to do is to call a professional. At Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning, we offer emergency furnace repair to get your unit back up and running as quickly as possible. Be confident 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 get it corrected! To find out more or to arrange a furnace repair visit, please speak a Service Experts office near you.