Why Your Furnace May Be Making These Noises

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

Scraping Sound 

If you hear a loud scraping noise 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 to inspect the system. There are a couple things that could be faulty with the blower wheel. First, it may just be loose and if the component is not too harmed, can be tightened. Second, it may be that the blower wheel is broken and needs to be replaced. Or third, it could be that the motor mount itself broke, causing the entire blower assembly to shake uncontrollably. One of our service technicians would be happy to come to your home and take a look, and get you back to the noiseless and comfortable home you have come to love. 

Loud Bang When Furnace Starts 

If there is a loud boom when your furnace kicks on, there are a handful of things that could be going on. Two typical issues are a dirty furnace burner or ignitor. Extending and contracting air ducts can also produce loud sounds after the heating blower comes on. A filthy furnace burner or ignitor could delay the burners from igniting, resulting in gas to build up. When the gas does finally ignite, it will create the loud boom you hear. This could end up being a safety issue, especially if one of these 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 costly. 

The other trouble, stretching and contracting air ducts, is a common noise complaint for homes with metal ducts. If your furnace is making the loud boom and it is produced by your air ducts, it could be a sign of undersized ducts, closed vents, or a clogged air filter. Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning is happy to come out to diagnose your issue and get your home back in working order. Additionally, this will also give you improved comfort as well. 

Whining Noise 

If you hear a squealing noise, it could be the blower motor is malfunctioning, the shaft bearings are in need of oil, or an issue with the blower belt. A seasonal heating tune-up will help find these issues before they become serious problems so make sure you call us at 954-736-4314 and we’ll make sure your furnace is ready to keep you safe and warm all winter long.