We may be near Halloween, but that doesn’t mean that your furnace should be making scary sounds. Whether the sounds are soft or loud, you’ll want to investigate. Royal Heating & Air knows that those weird and scary furnace sounds can be dangerous and can cause many problems. From bangs in the ductwork to whistling and humming while the blower runs, most furnace noises are pretty harmless. There are some more serious noises you should be aware of. The best HVAC company at the Lake of the Ozarks is here to highlight some scary furnace sounds you should never ignore.
Metal Against Metal
If you heard sounds that resemble scraping or clanking, your furnace’s blower wheel may be having issues. You should turn off your furnace immediately and wait until a professional HVAC technician can inspect your system.
- The blower fan may be broken and need professional replacement.
- The blower fan may have come loose and is now hitting the blower house casing. If the blower fan/wheel isn’t too damaged, then the repair should be quick and easy.
- If the piece holding the motor and blower assembly together has broken, the whole assembly may have dropped and is now hitting the housing.
Loud Bang
If you hear a sound that resembles a gunshot when you turn on your furnace, you may have a gas build-up in the system. This is a sound you should never ignore. It could crack the heat exchanger, which is not only dangerous, but also expensive. If you hear this sound, you should turn your system off immediately and call a professional.
Dirty burners may have delayed the ignition – this causes gas to build up and “explode” when the ignition finally comes on. Annual fall furnace maintenance will take care of this problem since your technician will clean and inspect the burners.
Expanding and contracting ducts could have caused the loud bang – this sound is usually easily distinguished from a gas build-up “explosion”. This is a common problem that homeowners with central HVAC systems have to deal with.
Rumbling
A rumbling sound normally indicates a furnace that hasn’t been maintained in a while. This usually means dirty gas burners or a pilot light that needs to be adjusted. The furnace flame should be blue, which indicates a clean and efficient burn. It’s fine if there is a small yellow tip, but if your flame is any color but blue, contact your HVAC company right away.
Rattling
A rattling sound coming from the furnace can indicate a loose panel or a loose screw. Before you attempt to work on your furnace, make sure you turn off power at the source. Then, you can try tightening your panel with a screwdriver to see if that fixes the rattling sound. If it’s not a loose screw, it could indicate a leak or crack in your heat exchanger, which can be very serious. A faulty heat exchanger can leak dangerous carbon monoxide into the home. You should contact your local HVAC company right away if the rattling sound isn’t fixed by tightening a screw or two.
High-Pitched Squealing or Screeching
Squealing, whining and whistling noises aren’t as big of a deal as metal-against-metal and booming noises, but it’s still something you want to listen for.
- If you have a belt-driven motor, loose, or damaged blower belts can cause a squealing or similar sound.
- Shaft bearings and other moving parts may have become dry. Contact a professional technician to lubricate your moving furnace parts.
Most of these furnace noises are avoidable with regular fall furnace maintenance by Royal Heating & Air. If scary furnace sounds are keeping you awake, schedule a heating service with the best HVAC company at the Lake of the Ozarks.
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