During operation, your furnace is going to make some noise. For instance, you may hear a slight rattling from the ductwork as the warm air passes through and the temperature fluctuates. You’ll also, of course, hear the rush of air coming through your room vents. But you know the specific sounds of your furnace better than anyone—so anything outside of what you normally hear is cause enough for alarm.
What furnace noises are signs you need repair?
- Screeching: often points to a worn blower motor or lack of lubrication
- Clanking or metal-on-metal sounds: could mean a loose or broken blower wheel
- Booming or explosive noises: may indicate dirty burners causing delayed ignition
Look, we get it: it’s easy to deny something is wrong with your heating systems. Fixing the problem can be a hassle and an expense you weren’t planning on. But the sooner you take care of any repair need, no matter how seemingly small, the more you can depend on your heating system to get you through the winter season reliably and powerfully. So if you hear any of the following suspicious noises, don’t hesitate to give our team a call!
Screech
There’s probably not a banshee inside your heater. The more likely culprit is that the blower motor is experiencing problems. And a broken blower motor means that the heat being produced by your furnace won’t be able to sufficiently circulate warm air throughout your home.
So what causes blower motor problems? Usually it’s a loss of lubrication, which happens over the years as a natural part of wear and tear. It’s worth noting here that this is something we check for during your routine maintenance appointments, so be sure to stay on top of those!
Remember, the best way to get this problem properly diagnosed is by contacting an experienced HVAC professional. Once the problem is diagnosed, we can take the right measures to get it fixed and get you back to disruption-free comfort.
ClAnK
Have you discovered that your heating system is making a noise that resembles metal on metal? Well, then you probably are hearing metal on metal, and it’s very likely a sign of a problem with the heater’s blower wheel. If this is in fact the case, it’s important to turn off your furnace right away to avoid further damage.
A damaged component like this can have a domino effect on other components of your furnace, eventually breaking it down to the point that it won’t turn on at all. That’s not what you need this winter!
BOOM
Did it just sound like there was a mini-explosion in your furnace? Well, we don’t want to be the bearer of bad news, but that very well could be what you heard. This is a sign of dirty burners. Sure, this seems like a benign problem—what’s a little bit of dirt going to do? Actually, it builds up on the burners and when the jets turn on, the heat and gas have to break through the dirt, so when it does finally ignite, a small explosion occurs.
Before you ask, no, cleaning the burner yourself isn’t something we recommend. Unfortunately, there is room for error here. You can wind up doing more harm than good to your system and could potentially harm yourself if you don’t know how to handle furnace components—particularly if you’re using a gas-powered one.
Frequently Asked Questions
Question: What furnace noises should I really pay attention to?
Answer: Noises like screeching, clanking or metal-on-metal, and booming are warning signs. These sounds often point to blower motor issues, damaged blower wheel, or dirty burners.
Question: What causes a screeching sound from my furnace?
Answer: Screeching is usually caused by a blower motor lacking lubrication, worn bearings, or a malfunctioning motor component.
Question: Why does my furnace make a clanking noise?
Answer: Clanking or metal-on-metal sounds suggest the blower wheel may be contacting another part, or there may be a loose internal component hitting metal surfaces.
Question: What leads to a booming or “mini-explosion” noise in a furnace?
Answer: Booming generally comes from delayed ignition, gas builds up, then ignites suddenly, or dirty burners interfering with smooth combustion.
Question: When should I call an HVAC professional about furnace noises?
Answer: You should call a technician anytime you hear unusual noises (beyond normal blower hum or airflow), or if the sound is clear, loud, new, or potentially causing damage.
For professional heating repair in Chambersburg, PA and beyond, look no further than Premier HVAC Services. Contact us today!