Sounds Your Furnace Shouldn’t Be Making

Furnaces can be noisy things. Minor pops sometimes emanate from the air ducts and your furnace gently humming – these are normal sounds. They tell you that your heating system is working. Most homeowners grow accustomed to these sounds, but if you’re hearing louder-than-normal noises coming from your furnace, they could be an indication that there’s something wrong with it. Here are four unusual sounds that your furnace shouldn’t be making.

Squealing

A squealing noise can be caused by a variety of issues. A shaft bearing that requires oiling, a loose blower belt, or a malfunctioning blower or motor are the most common causes. While these issues may not be as big of a deal as compared to the others on our list, you should make sure to have your furnace checked as soon as possible.

Chirping

A chirping sound coming from your furnace is fairly common. This is especially true if your unit hasn’t been used for a while. However, if the noise doesn’t go away, it could be due to a misaligned belt or fan. It might be a simple issue, but you don’t want it to become a bigger problem.

Clicking

This normally shouldn’t be cause for concern, unless you start hearing loud, constant clicking sounds. These noises can indicate a gas issue, a faulty pilot or that something is wrong with your wiring. Certain furnace models will click when the pilot light isn’t operating as it should. If the clicking has no clear pattern to it, you may have a problem with your gas valve, and you should call your gas provider immediately to fix the problem.

Booming

If you hear a loud boom when your furnace turns on, it can be indicative of rapidly expanding air ducts. This often happens when the ductwork isn’t appropriately sized for the furnace’s output.

In some cases, the boom may be caused by a dirty burner assembly. Dirt keeps the burners from igniting immediately, and the booming noise you hear is a small explosion in the furnace as the accumulated gas around the assembly ignites all at once. This issue definitely shouldn’t be taken lightly, as it can cause your furnace’s heat exchanger to crack (which will leak dangerous carbon monoxide into your home).

Schedule a service visit from Hey Neighbor Heating & Cooling immediately to diagnose problems like these and fix them before they become larger problems!