Why Your Furnace May Be Making These Noises

Now is when homeowners start turning on their heaters to settle in for a frigid winter. Unfortunately, when some heaters start up, especially if it hasn’t received a seasonal heating tune-up, there are some problems that need to be examined. A serious 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 scraping racket that sounds like metal on metal, there is possibly something faulty with the blower wheel. If you hear a sound like this, turn off your furnace immediately and call Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing to inspect the furnace. There are multiple things that could be faulty with the blower wheel. First, it might just be loose and if the piece is not too harmed, can be tightened. Second, it might be that the blower wheel is broken and will require replacement. Or third, it may be that the motor mount is what broke, causing the entire blower assembly to vibrate uncontrollably. One of our service professionals 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 comes on, there are a handful of things that could be happening. Two general things are a dirty furnace burner or ignitor. Extending and contracting air ducts can also create loud sounds after the heating system blower comes on. A dirty furnace burner or ignitor could holdup the burners from igniting, forcing gas to build up. When the gas finally ignites, 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 cause a carbon monoxide leak, but you’d end up having to replace the heat exchanger, which can be very pricey.

The other problem, extending and contracting air ducts, is a common noise complaint for homes with metal ducts. If your system 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 come out to diagnose your trouble and get your home back to order. Also, this will also give you improved comfort as well.

Whining Noise

If you hear a whining sound, it could be the blower belt, shaft bearings in need of oil, or even a malfunctioning blower motor. A routine system tune-up will help discover these issues before they become major problems so make sure you contact us at 866-397-3787 and we’ll make sure your heating equipment is ready to keep you safe and comfortable all winter long.