Why Your Furnace May Be Making These Noises
This is the time of year homeowners start turning on their heaters to settle in for a frigid winter. Unfortunately, when some heaters start up, especially if it hasn’t had a fall heating tune-up, there are some problems that need to be examined. A serious problem you may encounter is your furnace making funny noises – check out these furnace noises you should never neglect.
Scraping Sound
If you hear a loud scraping sound 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 Knochelmann Service Experts to inspect the equipment. There are a few things that could be wrong with the blower wheel. First, it could just be loose and if the component is not too damaged, can be tightened. Second, it may be that the blower wheel is broken and needs to be replaced. Or third, it could be that the motor mount itself broke, causing the whole blower assembly to rattle uncontrollably. One of our service professionals would be happy to come to your home and take a look, and get you back to the quiet and warm home you have come to expect.
Loud Bang When Furnace Starts
If there is a loud boom when your furnace comes on, there are a few things that could be occurring. Two typical issues are a dirty furnace burner or ignitor. Extending and contracting air ducts can also produce loud noises after the furnace blower comes on. A soiled furnace burner or ignitor could holdup the burners from igniting, resulting in gas to build up. When the gas does finally ignite, it will create the loud bang you hear. This could cause a safety issue, especially if one of these small explosions caused the heat exchanger to break. 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 trouble, stretching and contracting air ducts, is a common noise complaint for homes with metal ducts. If your equipment is making the loud pop and it is a result of your air ducts, it could be an indication of undersized ducts, closed vents, or a clogged air filter. Knochelmann Service Experts is happy to visit your home to diagnose your trouble and get your home back in shape for the winter. Ultimately, this will also give you improved comfort as well.
Whining Noise
If you hear a whining sound, it could be the blower belt, shaft bearings in need of oil, or even a malfunctioning blower motor. A routine system tune-up will help discover these issues before they become major problems so make sure you give us a call at 859-905-0834 and we’ll make sure your furnace is ready to keep you safe and comfortable all winter long.
