Why Your Furnace May Be Making These Noises

This is the time of year people start turning on their heating systems to settle in for a cold winter. Unfortunately, when some heaters start up, especially if it hasn’t received a yearly heating tune-up, there are some troubles that need to be assessed. A major problem you may run into is your furnace making weird noises – read about these furnace noises you should never ignore.

Scraping Sound

If you hear a loud raking sound that sounds like metal on metal, there is probably something wrong with the blower wheel. If you hear something like this, turn off your furnace right away and call Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing to inspect the furnace. There are multiple things that could be amiss with the blower wheel. First, it may just be loose and if the part is not too impaired, can be tightened. Second, it could be that the blower wheel is broken and needs to be replaced. Or third, it might be that the motor mount itself broke, causing the whole blower assembly to shake uncontrollably. One of our service professionals would be happy to come out and take a look, and get you back to the quiet and comfortable home you have come to love.

Loud Bang When Furnace Starts

If there is a loud bang when your furnace turns on, there are a few things that could be occurring. Two typical things are a dirty furnace burner or ignitor. Stretching and contracting air ducts can also produce loud booms after the heating system blower comes on. A filthy furnace burner or ignitor could prevent the burners from igniting, causing gas to build up. When the gas finally ignites, it will create the loud boom you hear. This could end up being a safety issue, especially if one of these small explosions caused the heat exchanger to crack. Not only could that cause a carbon monoxide leak, but you’d end up having to replace the heat exchanger, which may be very expensive.

The other issue, extending and contracting air ducts, is a typical noise complaint for people with metal ducts. If your equipment is making the loud pop and it is produced by your air ducts, it could be an indication 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 issue and get your home back in shape for the winter. Ultimately, this will also provide improved comfort as well.

Whining Noise

If you hear a squealing sound, it could be the blower motor is malfunctioning, the shaft bearings are in need of oil, or an issue with the blower belt. A routine furnace tune-up will help find these issues before they become big problems so make sure you contact us at 866-397-3787 and we’ll make sure your heating system is ready to keep you safe and cozy all winter long.