Why Your Furnace May Be Making These Noises

This is the time of year people start turning on their heating systems to settle in for a frigid winter. Unfortunately, when some heaters start up, especially if it hasn’t undergone a yearly heating tune-up, there are some issues that need to be examined. 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 racket that sounds like metal on metal, there is possibly something wrong with the blower wheel. If you hear something like this, shut off your furnace ASAP and call Bryant Heating & Cooling Service Experts to inspect the equipment. 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 could be that the motor mount actually broke, causing the entire blower assembly to vibrate uncontrollably. One of our service technicians would be happy to come over and take a look, and get you back to the noiseless and warm home you have come to love. 

Loud Bang When Furnace Starts 

If there is a loud pop when your furnace kicks on, there are a handful of things that could be going on. Two typical things are a dirty furnace burner or ignitor. Expanding and contracting air ducts can also cause loud sounds after the heating blower starts up. A soiled furnace burner or ignitor could holdup the burners from igniting, forcing gas to build up. When the gas finally does ignite, it will create the loud boom you hear. This could cause a safety issue, especially if one of those small explosions caused the heat exchanger to crack. Not only could that result in a carbon monoxide leak, but you would also have to replace the heat exchanger, which can be very costly. 

The other problem, stretching 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 an indication of undersized ducts, obstructed vents, or a clogged air filter. Bryant Heating & Cooling Service Experts is happy to set up an appointment to diagnose your issue and get your home back in working order. Also, this will also result in improved comfort as well. 

Whining Noise 

If you hear a squealing disturbance, 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 catch these issues before they become serious problems so make sure you give us a call at 226-773-3357 and we’ll make sure your heating system is ready to keep you safe and comfortable all winter long.