Why Your Furnace May Be Making These Noises

Now is when people start turning on their heaters to settle in for a frigid winter. Unfortunately, when some heaters start up, especially if it hasn’t had a seasonal heating tune-up, there are some issues that need to be assessed. A serious problem you may run into is your furnace making weird noises – take a look at these furnace noises you should never ignore.

Scraping Sound

If you hear a loud scraping sound that sounds like metal on metal, there is possibly something defective with the blower wheel. If you hear a sound like this, shut off your furnace ASAP and call Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing to inspect the system. There are a couple things that could be wrong with the blower wheel. First, it may just be loose and if the piece is not too impaired, can be tightened. Second, it might be that the blower wheel is broken and in need of replacement. Or third, it may be that the motor mount itself broke, causing the complete blower assembly to vibrate uncontrollably. One of our service technicians would be happy to come to your home and take a look, and get you back to the quiet and comfortable home you have come to adore.

Loud Bang When Furnace Starts

If there is a loud bang when your furnace kicks on, there are a handful of things that could be happening. Two general things are a dirty furnace burner or ignitor. Expanding and contracting air ducts can also create loud sounds after the heating system blower starts up. A soiled furnace burner or ignitor could prevent the burners from igniting, forcing gas to build up. When the gas finally does ignite, it will create the loud bang you hear. This could result in a safety issue, especially if one of the small explosions caused the heat exchanger to deteriorate. Not only could that produce a carbon monoxide leak, but you’d end up having to replace the heat exchanger, which could be very expensive.

The other trouble, extending and contracting air ducts, is a typical noise complaint for homeowners with metal ducts. If your furnace is making the loud boom and it is caused by your air ducts, it could be a sign 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. Additionally, this will also provide improved comfort as well.

Whining Noise

If you hear a high-pitched noise, 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 seasonal system tune-up will help catch these issues before they become serious problems so make sure you call us at 866-397-3787 and we’ll make sure your heating equipment is ready to keep you safe and comfortable all winter long.