If you've had your furnace for several winter seasons, you know how it’s supposed to sound. So it will likely catch your attention if the unit starts making strange noises. Some noises — like a couple of small pops or clicks prior to the warm air beginning to blow — are completely harmless. But others could affect the equipment or even jeopardize your health if you neglect them. Among the possible noises that you may hear, here are nine that warrant an immediate furnace repair.
Scraping Furnace Noise
The moment you hear a sound like metal against metal, this could suggest the blower wheel is becoming detached from the motor shaft, or the wheel or motor mount is broke. No matter what the specific problem, you should shut off your furnace if you hear 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 start heating your home. A loud boom at startup potentially means the burners are dirty, resulting in delayed ignition. When the gas eventually does ignite, you hear this scary furnace noise.
A small blast each time your furnace turns on could break the heat exchanger, a pricey repair that may necessitate you to switch out the entire furnace. Don't wait to act when you hear a noise like that! 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 screaky or loud squealing furnace noise generally implies poor lubrication. Multiple parts of a furnace need lightweight oil to run smoothly. If these parts are dry, components rub against each other and cause unnecessary wear and tear. We suggest getting this situation remedied right away to avoid premature furnace failure.
Chirping Noise
The sound of a bird caught in your furnace definitely warrants investigation. If you notice chirping when you fire up the furnace for the first time of the season, it could just mean your furnace is warming up after several months of no use. In cases like this, 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 always a safety risk, but the only option to stop the pesky furnace noise is to have a technician perform a repair.
Screeching Furnace
Screeching noises are definite indicators that the fan belt is failing. If the fraying belt splits, it could whip around inside the furnace, damaging 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 flip on and off. This is completely normal. That said, if the noise persists longer than about one minute, this could suggest an electrical complication. Don't risk an electrical fire! Simply call a furnace repair professional to correct the problem without delay.
Thwapping Sounds
The blower motor should function smoothly when the furnace switches on. If you discover a thwapping sound that rapidly picks up speed as the blower gets going, this could mean something is stuck in the fan, and the blades are hitting it with each rotation. A simple repair should be all that's required to stop 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 check this first. If the rattling continues, the most probable reason is a declining blower motor. Consider this a warning sign to have your furnace repaired before it entirely fails.
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 leak. These aren’t urgent 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 uncertain whether the furnace noises you hear match 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 have emergency furnace repair to get your system performing properly as soon as possible. Be confident 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 more information or to arrange a furnace repair visit, please get in touch with a Service Experts office near you.