This is the time of year families start turning on their heaters to settle in for a frigid winter. Unfortunately, when some furnaces start up, especially if it hasn’t received a yearly heating tune-up, there are some problems that need to be examined. A big problem you may run into is your furnace making funny noises – read about these furnace noises you should never neglect.
Scraping Sound
If you hear a loud scraping noise that sounds like metal on metal, there is probably something faulty with the blower wheel. If you hear a noise like this, turn off your furnace right away and call Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning to inspect the furnace. There are a couple things that could be faulty with the blower wheel. First, it could just be loose and if the component is not too impaired, can be tightened. Second, it might be that the blower wheel is broken and will require replacement. Or third, it might be that the motor mount actually broke, causing the entire blower assembly to vibrate uncontrollably. One of our service experts 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 bang when your furnace kicks on, there are a few things that could be occurring. Two typical issues are a dirty furnace burner or ignitor. Stretching and contracting air ducts can also produce loud sounds after the heating blower turns on. A filthy furnace burner or ignitor could holdup the burners from igniting, resulting in 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 these small explosions caused the heat exchanger to deteriorate. Not only could that produce a carbon monoxide leak, but you’d end up having to replace the heat exchanger, which could be very costly.
The other issue, stretching and contracting air ducts, is a typical noise complaint for homes with metal ducts. If your system is making the loud boom and it is produced by your air ducts, it could be an indication of undersized ducts, obstructed vents, or a clogged air filter. Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning is happy to come out to diagnose your trouble and get your home back to order. Ultimately, this will also give you improved comfort as well.
Whining Noise
If you hear a high-pitched disturbance, it could be the shaft bearings are in need of oil, there is an issue with the blower belt, or the blower motor is malfunctioning. A seasonal system tune-up will help discover these issues before they become major problems so make sure you call us at 352-414-4006 and we’ll make sure your furnace is ready to keep you safe and warm all winter long.