9 Common Furnace Noises and What They Mean
If you've had your furnace for several winter seasons, you know how it’s supposed to sound. So you might be caught off guard if the unit starts making unfamiliar noises. Some noises — like a few small pops or clicks prior to the warm air beginning to blow — are completely harmless. But others could damage the equipment or even jeopardize your health if you ignore them. Among the possible noises that you may hear, here are nine that are worthy of an immediate furnace repair.
Scraping Furnace Noise
If you hear a sound like metal scraping on metal, this could mean the blower wheel is becoming detached from the motor shaft, or the wheel or motor mount is broke. Regardless of the exact problem, you should turn off your furnace if you notice a scraping sound and call a professional for an emergency repair.
Loud Boom at Startup
When you start your furnace, the burners should ignite immediately and begin heating your home. A loud boom at startup likely means the burners are dirty, which causes a delayed ignition. When the gas at last does ignite, you hear this terrifying furnace noise.
A small blast each time your furnace turns on could break the heat exchanger, an expensive repair that might require you to replace the entire furnace. Don’t let it come to this! Shut 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 signifies poor lubrication. Like many mechanical equipment with moving parts inside, they need lightweight oil to operate smoothly. If these parts are dry, components grate against each other and cause unnecessary wear and tear. Look into having this problem remedied right away to avoid premature furnace failure.
Chirping Noise
The sound of a bird entrapped in your furnace definitely warrants investigation. If you notice chirping during the first furnace cycle of the season, it could merely mean your furnace is warming up after months of no use. In this situation, the sound should dissipate after a few cycles.
However, if the chirping continues, it could indicate the pulley for the blower motor is out of alignment or the mounting plate is touching the blower wheel. This isn’t necessarily a safety threat, but the only choice to get rid of the pesky furnace noise is to have a technician perform a repair.
Screeching Furnace
Screeching noises are an unmistakable warning sign that the fan belt is failing. If the fraying belt cracks, it could spin inside the furnace, harming other components and resulting in a much more expensive repair. Avoid this hassle and cost by replacing 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. There is nothing unusual about that. However, if the noise lasts longer than a minute or so, this could suggest an electrical problem. Don't risk an electrical fire! Simply call a furnace repair professional to solve the problem immediately.
Thwapping Sounds
The blower motor should run properly when the furnace turns 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 stuck in the fan, and the blades are hitting it with each rotation. A simple repair should be all you need to eliminate this annoying furnace noise and protect against damaging the blower motor.
Rattling Furnace
There are several possible reasons for your furnace to produce a rattling sound. It might be as simple as a loose door cover, so verify that option first. If the rattling persists, the most likely root cause 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
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 separated somewhere, allowing conditioned air to escape. These aren’t critical matters, but if you address it promptly, you’ll save money 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? 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 offer emergency furnace repair to get your system back up and running as quickly as possible. Feel safe 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 fix it! For more information or to arrange a furnace repair visit, please get in touch with a Service Experts office near you.