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 system starts making strange sounds. Some noises — like a few small pops or clicks ahead of the warm air beginning to blow — are normal and harmless. But others could impair the equipment or even threaten your health if you ignore them. While there are many more furnace noises to consider, here are nine that justify an immediate furnace repair.
Scraping Furnace Noise
When you hear a sound like metal rubbing on metal, this could mean the blower wheel has come loose from the motor shaft, or the wheel or motor mount has broken. Regardless of the precise problem, you should power down your furnace if you hear 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 quickly and get started heating your home. A loud boom at startup potentially means the burners are dirty, producing a delayed ignition. When the gas finally does ignite, you hear this scary furnace noise.
A small explosion each time your furnace turns on could bust the heat exchanger, an expensive repair that may force you to remove and replace the entire furnace. Act before it gets to this point! Shut 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 usually indicates poor lubrication. Multiple parts of a furnace need lightweight oil to function smoothly. If the parts are not lubricated, components rub 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 trapped in your furnace definitely warrants investigation. If you hear 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 case, the sound should stop 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 contacting the blower wheel. This isn’t necessarily a safety threat, but the only solution to eliminate 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 wearing out. If the fraying belt splits, it could whip around inside the furnace, harming other components and leading to a much more expensive repair. Insulate yourself from this hassle by replacing the worn-out belt sooner rather than later.
Persistent Clicking.
Some furnaces give off a quick series of clicks when they turn on and off. This is completely normal. However, if the noise persists longer than about one minute, this could signal an electrical issue. Don't risk your home catching fire by a faulty electrical situation; call a furnace repair professional to fix the problem promptly.
Thwapping Sounds
The blower motor should run properly when the furnace switches on. If you hear a thwapping sound that rapidly picks up speed as the blower gets going, this is a strong indication that something is snagged in the fan, and the blades are hitting it with each rotation. A simple repair should be all it takes to stop this pestering furnace noise and reduce the risk of damaging the blower motor.
Rattling Furnace
A rattling furnace can be caused by multiple issues. It might be as basic as a loose door cover, so verify that option first. If the rattling persists, the most plausible reason is a failing blower motor. Take this as a warning sign to have your furnace repaired before it entirely fails.
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 detached, allowing conditioned air to escape. These aren’t urgent matters, but if you fix it soon, you’ll pay less on your heating and cooling bills long term.
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 soon as possible. Rest assured 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 get it corrected! For more information or to arrange a furnace repair visit, please speak a Service Experts office near you.