Why Your Furnace May Be Making These Noises

It’s that time of year when people start turning on their heating systems to settle in for a long winter. Unfortunately, when some heating systems start up, especially if it hasn’t had a yearly heating tune-up, there are some problems that need to be examined. A major problem you may discover is your furnace making weird noises – take a look at these furnace noises you should never disregard.

Scraping Sound

If you hear a loud scraping sound that sounds like metal on metal, there is probably something defective with the blower wheel. If you hear a sound like this, shut off your furnace immediately and call Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing to inspect the equipment. There are a few things that could be faulty with the blower wheel. First, it might just be loose and if the piece is not too damaged, can be tightened. Second, it might be that the blower wheel is broken and in need of replacement. Or third, it might be that the motor mount actually broke, causing the entire blower assembly to shake uncontrollably. One of our service technicians would be happy to come over and take a look, and get you back to the noiseless and comfortable home you have come to adore.

Loud Bang When Furnace Starts

If there is a loud pop when your furnace turns on, there are a handful of things that could be going on. Two typical things are a dirty furnace burner or ignitor. Stretching and contracting air ducts can also create loud booms after the furnace blower turns on. A dirty furnace burner or ignitor could holdup the burners from igniting, forcing gas to build up. When the gas finally does 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 result in a carbon monoxide leak, but you would also have to replace the heat exchanger, which can be very expensive.

The other issue, stretching and contracting air ducts, is a common noise complaint for homeowners with metal ducts. If your furnace is making the loud bang and it is produced by your air ducts, it could be a sign of undersized ducts, obstructed vents, or a clogged air filter. Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing is happy to visit your home to diagnose your problem and get your home back to order. Also, this will also result in improved comfort as well.

Whining Noise

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