Why Your Furnace May Be Making These Noises

This is the time of year families start turning on their heating systems to settle in for a cold winter. Unfortunately, when some furnaces start up, especially if it hasn’t undergone a fall heating tune-up, there are some troubles that need to be assessed. A big problem you may run into is your furnace making funny noises – check out these furnace noises you should never disregard.

Scraping Sound

If you hear a loud scratching racket that sounds like metal on metal, there is possibly something faulty with the blower wheel. If you hear something like this, shut off your furnace immediately and call Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing to inspect the furnace. There are a couple things that could be amiss with the blower wheel. First, it could just be loose and if the component is not too damaged, can be tightened. Second, it could be that the blower wheel is broken and in need of replacement. Or third, it might be that the motor mount actually broke, causing the complete blower assembly to rattle 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 expect.

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 typical issues are a dirty furnace burner or ignitor. Extending and contracting air ducts can also create loud sounds after the heating system blower turns on. A soiled furnace burner or ignitor could holdup the burners from igniting, resulting in gas to build up. When the gas finally ignites, it will create the loud boom you hear. This could cause a safety issue, especially if one of the small explosions caused the heat exchanger to crack. Not only could that result in a carbon monoxide leak, but you will have to replace the heat exchanger, which could be very costly.

The other problem, extending and contracting air ducts, is a common noise complaint for people with metal ducts. If your system is making the loud boom and it is produced by your air ducts, it could be an indication of undersized ducts, blocked vents, or a clogged air filter. Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing is happy to come out to diagnose your issue and get your home back in shape for the winter. Also, this will also result in improved comfort as well.

Whining Noise

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