Furnaces can make all sorts of noises, from scraping and banging to whistling and popping. These sounds can be a sign of a loose part, cracked heat exchanger, or dirty gas burners. To assist you in preventing a gas leak in your home, we have compiled a list of 7 types of loud furnace sounds and how to troubleshoot them. Why Is My Furnace Making Loud Noises?
Banging Sounds
If your furnace is making a loud, booming, or banging noise, it may be because of a small explosion of gas. This can occur when there is a delay in ignition, which then causes gas to build up in the combustion chamber. If the gas burners are not working as they should, this could be because of a clog or a gas pressure problem. Never try to fix a gas burner yourself – always get a licensed technician to do it. And be careful not to disassemble the heat exchanger or burners, as this could cause a gas leak in your house.
Shrieking Noises
If your furnace starts making a high-pitched squealing noise, it’s an indicator that there is a problem with the motor, for example, a damaged belt. The sooner you discover the problem, the easier it is to fix. To prevent further damage to your furnace, you should call a licensed contractor to repair the belt.
Scraping Sounds
If your furnace is making a scraping noise, this may be a sign of a problem with the motor. You should turn off the heat and call a certified HVAC professional in your neighborhood.
Rattling and Rumbling Noises
If there’s something loose in your furnace, it will cause vibration. If a part becomes too loose, it can break other components in your gas or electric furnace. When you hire a technician to perform an inspection of the blower motor, hot surface ignitor, heat exchanger, or gas burners, you may want to take a look at the qualifications and experience of the technician.
Whistling Sounds
Your furnace may be making a sound that sounds unnaturally whistling due to a restricted airflow from a clogged air filter. Try changing your air filter and see if the sound goes away.
Popping Noises
At the beginning of a heating cycle, the air is blown out to empty cold air ducts in your house. If the air ducts are filled with cold air, the metal will noticeably enlarge because the air needs to flow through it. On the other hand, the source of the pop noise may be contaminated gas burners, which will eventually seal up and stop the gas flow. Frequently, the debris is not removed from the gas burners each year, leading to a large amount of gas starting to collect and ultimately forming holes in your heat exchanger.
Humming Sounds
The majority of furnaces will produce a low humming noise. If the noise becomes noticeably louder, this is an indication of a severe problem with your blower fan or capacitor. To prevent damage to your fan, it is essential to call a licensed technician to inspect and fix the furnace.
The Scariest Furnace Problems Can Be Silent. If your furnace doesn’t make a noise similar to a key fob that is still attached to your furnace, it may have other issues such as a carbon monoxide leak. Carbon monoxide poisoning can happen due to a crack in the heat exchanger and symptoms can include dizziness, nausea, fainting, and labored breathing. Regular inspection by your heater will help ensure it is safe to operate.