Why Your Furnace May Be Making These Noises

Now is when homeowners start turning on their furnaces to settle in for a long winter. Unfortunately, when some heaters start up, especially if it hasn’t undergone a seasonal heating tune-up, there are some issues that need to be assessed. A serious problem you may encounter is your furnace making weird noises – check out these furnace noises you should never ignore.

Scraping Sound

If you hear a loud scratching noise that sounds like metal on metal, there is possibly something defective with the blower wheel. If you hear something like this, turn off your furnace right away and call Roland J. Down Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning to inspect the furnace. There are multiple things that could be amiss with the blower wheel. First, it could just be loose and if the piece is not too damaged, can be tightened. Second, it might be that the blower wheel is broken and will require replacement. Or third, it could be that the motor mount actually broke, causing the entire blower assembly to vibrate uncontrollably. One of our service technicians would be happy to come out and take a look, and get you back to the silent and warm home you have come to love.

Loud Bang When Furnace Starts

If there is a loud boom when your furnace kicks on, there are a couple things that could be happening. Two general issues are a dirty furnace burner or ignitor. Stretching and contracting air ducts can also create loud bangs after the furnace blower comes on. A dirty furnace burner or ignitor could holdup the burners from igniting, causing gas to build up. When the gas finally does ignite, it will create the loud bang you hear. This could end up being a safety issue, especially if one of the small explosions caused the heat exchanger to break. Not only could that cause a carbon monoxide leak, but you would also have to replace the heat exchanger, which could be very expensive.

The other problem, expanding and contracting air ducts, is a common noise complaint for homes with metal ducts. If your equipment is making the loud boom and it is produced by your air ducts, it could be a symptom of undersized ducts, closed vents, or a clogged air filter. Roland J. Down Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning is happy to visit your home to diagnose your trouble and get your home back in working order. Additionally, this will also give you improved comfort as well.

Whining Noise

If you hear a whining noise, it could be the blower motor is malfunctioning, the shaft bearings are in need of oil, or an issue with the blower belt. An annual heating tune-up will help find these issues before they become big problems so make sure you call us at 518-417-2938 and we’ll make sure your furnace is ready to keep you safe and cozy all winter long.