Why Your Furnace May Be Making These Noises
Now is when families start turning on their heaters to settle in for a long winter. Unfortunately, when some furnaces start up, especially if it hasn’t received a seasonal heating tune-up, there are some troubles that need to be examined. A serious problem you may encounter is your furnace making funny noises – take a look at these furnace noises you should never ignore.
Scraping Sound
If you hear a loud scraping racket that sounds like metal on metal, there is likely something faulty 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 few things that could be faulty with the blower wheel. First, it might just be loose and if the part is not too damaged, can be tightened. Second, it could be that the blower wheel is broken and will require 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 out and take a look, and get you back to the noiseless and comfortable home you have come to expect.
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 typical issues are a dirty furnace burner or ignitor. Extending and contracting air ducts can also create loud bangs after the furnace blower comes on. A soiled furnace burner or ignitor could holdup the burners from igniting, causing gas to build up. When the gas does finally 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 break. Not only could that result in a carbon monoxide leak, but you would also have to replace the heat exchanger, which may be very pricey.
The other trouble, expanding and contracting air ducts, is a common noise complaint for homeowners with metal ducts. If your equipment is making the loud boom and it is caused 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 come out to diagnose your trouble and get your home back in working order. Ultimately, this will also result in improved comfort as well.
Whining Noise
If you hear a squealing sound, 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 find these issues before they become major 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.