Over time, when you fire up your furnace, you know how it’s supposed to sound. So you'll likely notice if the system starts making unfamiliar noises. Some noises — like a couple of minor pops or clicks before the warm air beginning to blow — are normal and harmless. But others could ruin the equipment or even jeopardize your health if you ignore them. Of all the furnace noises you might encounter, here are nine that warrant an immediate furnace repair.
Scraping Furnace Noise
If you hear a sound like metal rubbing on metal, this could indicate 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 power down your furnace if you notice a scraping sound and call a professional for an emergency repair.
Loud Boom at Startup
When your furnace starts up, the burners should ignite right away and begin heating your home. A loud boom at startup probably means the burners are dirty, resulting in delayed ignition. When the gas finally does ignite, you hear this terrifying furnace noise.
A small blast each time your furnace turns on could bust the heat exchanger, an expensive repair that might require you to remove and replace the entire furnace. Act before it gets to this point! Turn 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 screaky or loud squealing furnace noise generally indicates poor lubrication. Like many mechanical equipment with moving parts inside, they need lightweight oil to run smoothly. If these parts are dry, components grind against each other and cause unwanted wear and tear. Look into having this situation remedied right away to prevent premature furnace failure.
Chirping Noise
The sound of a bird caught in your furnace certainly 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 continues, it could mean the pulley for the blower motor is misaligned or the mounting plate is touching the blower wheel. This isn’t necessarily a safety threat, but the only solution to eliminate the annoying furnace noise is to have a technician perform a repair.
Screeching Furnace
Screeching noises are clear and certain signs that the fan belt is failing. If the fraying belt cracks, it could spin inside the furnace, harming 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 fast series of clicks when they flip on and off. This is completely normal. However, if the noise continues longer than approximately 60 seconds, this could signal an electrical problem. Don't risk an electrical fire! Simply call a furnace repair professional to solve the problem without delay.
Thwapping Sounds
The blower motor should perform without problems when the furnace activates. If you notice a thwapping sound that rapidly picks up speed as the blower gets going, this is a strong indication that something is stuck in the fan, and the blades are smacking it with each rotation. A straightforward repair should be all that's required to eliminate this pestering furnace noise and prevent damaging the blower motor.
Rattling Furnace
A rattling furnace can be caused by multiple issues. It might be as easy as a loose door cover, so check this first. If the rattling continues, the most likely culprit is a malfunctioning blower motor. Take this as a warning sign to have your furnace repaired before it breaks down completely.
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 loose, allowing conditioned air to leak. These aren’t critical matters, but if you address it promptly, you’ll pay less on your heating and cooling bills over the long haul.
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 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 heater 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 unhappy 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.