Over time, when you fire up your furnace, you know how it’s supposed to sound. So you might be caught off guard if the equipment starts making odd noises. Some noises — like a few small pops or clicks prior to the warm air beginning to blow — are normal and harmless. But others could ruin the equipment or even endanger your health if you neglect them. While there are many more furnace noises to consider, here are nine that justify an immediate furnace repair.
Scraping Furnace Noise
The moment you hear a sound like metal against metal, this could mean the blower wheel is becoming detached from the motor shaft, or the wheel or motor mount is damaged or failing. Regardless of the precise problem, you should turn off your furnace if you discover a scraping sound and call a professional for an emergency 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 probably means the burners are dirty, which causes a delayed ignition. When the gas eventually does ignite, you hear this scary furnace noise.
A small blast each time your furnace turns on could crack the heat exchanger, a costly repair that may force 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 don’t use it again until it has been repaired.
Squealing or Whining Sounds
A squealing furnace noise typically implies poor lubrication. Like many mechanical equipment with moving parts inside, they need lightweight oil to run smoothly. Without this, components grind against each other and cause unnecessary wear and tear. Look into having this situation remedied right away to prevent premature furnace failure.
Chirping Noise
The sound of a bird entrapped in your furnace absolutely warrants investigation. If you notice chirping during the first furnace cycle of the season, it could merely mean your furnace is warming up after several months of no use. In this situation, the sound should stop after a few cycles.
However, if the chirping continues, it could mean the pulley for the blower motor is crooked or the mounting plate is touching the blower wheel. This isn’t automatically a safety threat, but the only option to stop the pesky furnace noise is to have a technician conduct a repair.
Screeching Furnace
Screeching noises are an unmistakable warning sign that the fan belt is wearing out. If the fraying belt cracks, it could spin inside the furnace, breaking other components and contributing to a much more expensive repair. You can protect yourself from this unexpected expense by replacing the worn-out belt sooner rather than later.
Repeated Clicking.
Some furnaces give off a quick series of clicks when they turn on and off. This is completely normal. Having said that, if the noise carries on longer than approximately 60 seconds, this could indicate an electrical complication. Don't risk an electrical fire! Simply call a furnace repair professional to solve the problem without delay.
Thwapping Sounds
The blower motor should function properly when the furnace switches on. If you hear a thwapping sound that dramatically picks up speed as the blower gets going, this is a strong indication that something is caught in the fan, and the blades are hitting it with each rotation. A simple repair should be all you need to eliminate this bothersome furnace noise and protect against damaging the blower motor.
Rattling Furnace
A few different problems can cause your furnace to rattle. It might be as simple as a loose door cover, so verify that option first. If the rattling persists, the most probable culprit is a malfunctioning blower motor. Consider this a warning sign to have your furnace repaired before it breaks down completely.
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 loose, allowing conditioned air to release. These aren’t emergency matters, but if you have them fixed quickly, you’ll spend less on your heating and cooling bills over the long haul.
Schedule Furnace Repair with Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning
Are you undecided whether the furnace noises you hear align with these descriptions? Maybe nothing’s wrong, but for your peace of mind, the best thing to do is to call a professional. At Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning, we provide emergency furnace repair to get your unit back up and running as soon as possible. Feel safe 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 additional information or to arrange a furnace repair visit, please get in touch with a Service Experts office near you.