Some Sounds You Shouldn’t Hear Coming from Your Furnace

It may be pretty easy to ignore some of the noises that come from your home systems and appliances. It’s easy because really, we don’t want to admit that something is wrong that might need expensive and inconvenient repairs. However, ignoring certain noises could leave you with even more urgent and expensive repair needs.

While something like a rattle can be as simple as having a loose panel on your furnace cabinet, alternatively you might have a cracked heat exchanger, which is a much more harmful problem as it can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning in your home. Here at Hendrix Air, we understand how important it is to protect your home, and that includes protecting and improving your comfort! If you hear any suspicious sounds coming from your furnace, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our team for an inspection. Read on to learn what some of these sounds might be.

Screeching

Have you detected a loud screeching noise coming from your furnace? This is likely an indication that the blower motor of your furnace isn’t working as it should. A malfunctioning blower motor means that the heat produced by your furnace won’t be able to circulate warm air around the home successfully.

This most likely is the sign of what can start out as a relatively minor repair need–your blower motor’s bearings have lubrication that’s worn down, and now there is friction causing metal components to rub against each other. We say relatively minor because this is a natural part of wear and tear, and if you address it right away, it won’t turn into something worse. Otherwise, the friction can eventually cause the motor to overheat and burn out, possibly even causing your entire furnace to break down.

Clanking

If you ever think you detect the sound of metal-on-metal coming from your furnace, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our team, because that probably is what you’re hearing. In many cases, this is a sign of a serious malfunction with the furnace’s blower wheel. We advise that you turn off your furnace and contact a professional right away so you can prevent further damage to the wheel. More damage to the wheel means more damage to your wallet, too.

Banging (or “Booming”)

If you hear a sudden bang or boom come from your furnace, please do not ignore it. Please do turn off your furnace and give our team a call right away. Why? Because you’re likely hearing the symptom of an issue that could lead to a dangerous situation. Now, this is more likely in an older furnace, or a heating system that hasn’t been routinely maintained every year, but what you’re probably hearing is gas collecting under dirt and grime on your burners, then burning through suddenly. The burners have to be cleaned on a regular basis as part of your overall heating maintenance plan. Otherwise, they can lead to this issue. Why is it an issue? Because this “bang” or “boom” rattles your furnace, and this can impact the heat exchanger. If the heat exchanger cracks, it can lead to harmful carbon monoxide exposure in your home.

Contact Hendrix Air, Inc. for quality and reliable furnace repair. Delivering friendly, five-star service, every time!

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