{"id":656,"date":"2020-11-23T11:00:15","date_gmt":"2020-11-23T16:00:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.premierhvacpa.com\/blog\/?p=656"},"modified":"2025-10-25T08:46:12","modified_gmt":"2025-10-25T12:46:12","slug":"pay-attention-to-these-furnace-noises","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.premierhvacpa.com\/blog\/pay-attention-to-these-furnace-noises\/","title":{"rendered":"Pay Attention to These Furnace Noises!"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\"woman-holding-hand-to-ear-to-listen-on-yellow-background\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

During operation, your furnace is going to make some <\/em>noise. For instance, you may hear a\nslight rattling from the ductwork as the warm air passes through and the\ntemperature fluctuates. You\u2019ll also, of course, hear the rush of air coming\nthrough your room vents. But you know the specific sounds of your <\/em>furnace better than anyone\u2014so anything\noutside of what you normally hear is cause enough for alarm. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What furnace noises are signs you need repair?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
    \n
  • Screeching<\/strong>: often points to a worn blower motor or lack of lubrication<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Clanking or metal-on-metal sounds<\/strong>: could mean a loose or broken blower wheel<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Booming or explosive noises<\/strong>: may indicate dirty burners causing delayed ignition<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    Look, we get it: it\u2019s easy to deny something is wrong with your heating systems. Fixing the problem can be a hassle and an expense you weren\u2019t 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\u2019t hesitate to give our team a call! <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

    Screech<\/em><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    There\u2019s probably <\/em>not\na banshee inside your heater. The more likely culprit is that the blower motor\nis experiencing problems. And a broken blower motor means that the heat being\nproduced by your furnace won\u2019t be able to sufficiently circulate warm air throughout\nyour home. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    So what causes blower motor problems? Usually it\u2019s a loss of\nlubrication, which happens over the years as a natural part of wear and tear.\nIt\u2019s worth noting here that this is <\/em>something\nwe check for during your routine maintenance appointments, so be sure to stay\non top of those! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Remember, the best way to get this problem properly\ndiagnosed is by contacting an experienced HVAC professional. Once the problem\nis diagnosed, we can take the right measures to get it fixed and get you back to\ndisruption-free comfort. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    ClAnK<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Have you discovered that your heating system is making a\nnoise that resembles metal on metal? Well, then you probably are <\/em>hearing metal on metal, and it\u2019s\nvery likely a sign of a problem with the heater\u2019s blower wheel. If this is in\nfact the case, it\u2019s important to turn off your furnace right away to avoid\nfurther damage. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    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\u2019t turn on at all. That\u2019s not what you need this winter! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    BOOM<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Did it just sound like there was a mini-explosion in your furnace? Well, we don\u2019t 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\u2014what\u2019s 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Before you ask, no, cleaning the burner yourself isn\u2019t\nsomething we recommend. Unfortunately, there is room for error here. You can\nwind up doing more harm than good to your system and could potentially harm\nyourself if you don\u2019t know how to handle furnace components\u2014particularly if you\u2019re\nusing a gas-powered one. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Frequently Asked Questions<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Question: What furnace noises should I really pay attention to?<\/strong>
    <\/strong>Answer:<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Question: What causes a screeching sound from my furnace?<\/strong>
    <\/strong>Answer:<\/strong> Screeching is usually caused by a blower motor lacking lubrication, worn bearings, or a malfunctioning motor component.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Question: Why does my furnace make a clanking noise?<\/strong>
    <\/strong>Answer:<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Question: What leads to a booming or \u201cmini-explosion\u201d noise in a furnace?
    Answer:<\/strong> Booming generally comes from delayed ignition, gas builds up, then ignites suddenly, or dirty burners interfering with smooth combustion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Question: When should I call an HVAC professional about furnace noises?
    Answer:<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n