Why Your Furnace May Be Making These Noises

This is the time of year families start turning on their furnaces to settle in for a frigid winter. Unfortunately, when some furnaces start up, especially if it hasn’t received a yearly heating tune-up, there are some problems that need to be assessed. A major problem you may encounter is your furnace making funny noises – read about these furnace noises you should never disregard. 

Scraping Sound 

If you hear a loud scraping noise that sounds like metal on metal, there is probably something defective with the blower wheel. If you hear a sound like this, power off your furnace immediately and call Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing to inspect the system. There are a couple things that could be amiss with the blower wheel. First, it might just be loose and if the piece 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 may be that the motor mount itself broke, causing the entire 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 silent and cozy home you have come to adore. 

Loud Bang When Furnace Starts 

If there is a loud pop when your furnace comes on, there are a few things that could be happening. Two typical issues are a dirty furnace burner or ignitor. Expanding and contracting air ducts can also produce loud bangs after the heating system blower turns on. A filthy 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 bang you hear. This could result in a safety issue, especially if one of these small explosions caused the heat exchanger to deteriorate. Not only could that result in a carbon monoxide leak, but you will have to replace the heat exchanger, which may be very costly. 

The other issue, expanding and contracting air ducts, is a usual noise complaint for homeowners with metal ducts. If your system is making the loud pop 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 problem and get your home back in working order. Also, this will also provide improved comfort as well. 

Whining Noise 

If you hear a squealing sound, 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 give us a call at 866-397-3787 and we’ll make sure your heating equipment is ready to keep you safe and comfortable all winter long.