If the furnace is making strange noises, you have good reason for concern. Although some noises are okay, other noises should be checked by an HVAC professional.
In any case, we at Lancaster Furnace & Air Conditioning list four common furnace noises a homeowner might hear and how our preventative maintenance service can help you avoid expensive repairs.
Screeching or Squealing Noises
If you hear a screeching or squealing sound that is anything like nails on a chalkboard, or metal scratching, it might indicate your blower wheel is having problems. The wheel might have come loose from the motor shaft. Or, it could be broken. Moreover, it could be hitting the sides of the system. In any case, screeching noises often indicate a bad belt or motor blower.
Humming Sounds
A humming sound coming from your furnace isn’t a normal sound and might be from a malfunctioning starting capacitor or some other issue having to do with the motor itself. If not addressed by a technician, this humming sound could get loud and then evolve into a blown motor.
Loud Bangs or Popping
Popping or banging noises are fairly normal because your air duct system is made of sheet metal that cools and heats, which makes it expand and contract. With that said, if you notice excessive popping or banging and you aren’t getting the heated air you require, there might be a problem with the ignition system. If your furnace’s burners are dirty, they will enable gas to get inside the housing. Because it won’t be able to light at the burner with it escaping, this can lead to an explosion.
As such, this problem can be an extremely dangerous one. If this is something your heating system is doing, please turn it off and call us right away.
Thwapping Sounds
If you hear any sort of “thwapping” sound, or smacking sound that’s like a playing card striking against a bicycle spoke, there is likely something lodged or stuck in the blower blades. If this is the case and the object dislodges, it could go into the housing and fly around causing more damage.
Don’t take risks!
Home heating units are intricate machines. They are expensive systems that utilize a variety of parts. They use fuel to generate heat. If you are observing any other unfamiliar sounds — thumping, squealing, banging, loud whistling, rumbling, etc. — turn it off and give us a call right away before turning it back on to prevent permanent additional damage.
If your furnace is not heating properly and is making noises, call Lancaster Furnace & Air Conditioning today at (740) 625-2320 or schedule an appointment now by clicking here!
Also keep in mind, these are things that can be addressed ahead of time as part of a standard preventative maintenance appointment, which really should be done every year!
