Why Your Furnace May Be Making These Noises

It’s that time of year when homeowners start turning on their heating systems to settle in for a cold winter. Unfortunately, when some heating systems start up, especially if it hasn’t received a fall heating tune-up, there are some issues 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 raking racket that sounds like metal on metal, there is probably something defective with the blower wheel. If you hear something like this, power off your furnace right away and call Coastal Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning to inspect the furnace. There are a couple things that could be amiss with the blower wheel. First, it could 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 needs to be replaced. Or third, it may be that the motor mount is what broke, causing the entire blower assembly to rattle uncontrollably. One of our service professionals would be happy to come over 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 boom when your furnace kicks on, there are a few things that could be happening. Two common things are a dirty furnace burner or ignitor. Expanding and contracting air ducts can also cause loud noises after the heating system blower starts up. A dirty furnace burner or ignitor could delay the burners from igniting, resulting in gas to build up. When the gas finally does ignite, it will create the loud pop you hear. This could end up being 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 would also have to replace the heat exchanger, which may be very costly.

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

Whining Noise

If you hear a high-pitched sound, it could be the blower belt, shaft bearings in need of oil, or even a malfunctioning blower motor. An annual system tune-up will help discover these issues before they become big problems so make sure you give us a call at 912-208-2399 and we’ll make sure your heating equipment is ready to keep you safe and comfortable all winter long.