In the wintertime, the last thing you want is for your furnace to fail. But that’s exactly what happens to a lot of homeowners — and often, it’s completely preventable. Some HVAC experts say that up to 75% of all no-heat calls in the winter can be attributed to lack of maintenance. If you know you’re behind on furnace maintenance or you have a feeling your heater isn’t working the way it should, you may want to call your heating and cooling company to schedule service before you actually need it. And if you hear one of these scary sounds, you’ll definitely want to call for furnace repairs or urgent maintenance.
Sounds That May Mean You Need New Furnace Installation or Repairs:
- Banging: Big bangs or booming noises aren’t normal. Some people say they experience what sounds like a gunshot when they turn on their furnace. That’s terrifying for a few different reasons. Not only is it incredibly startling, but it could also indicate a serious problem. You may have dirty burners, a gas build-up, or ductwork issues. Sometimes, it might be a simple fix; in other cases, the problem could even lead to a carbon monoxide leak. You may not need an entirely new furnace installation, but you do need to call your HVAC providers right away.
- Scraping: The sound of scraping metal, rattling, and clanking could mean your blower fan is loose or that it’s broken in some way. That’s typically the case when these sounds occur when the furnace itself is actually on. It may not sound like a big deal, but it means that furnace repairs need to be performed right away. A rattling sound that occurs right when the furnace kicks on, however, could mean the heat exchanger is cracked. That’s even more serious, so you won’t want to delay calling your HVAC technician if it sounds like there’s some metal-on-metal action happening.
- Buzzing: A buzzing sound usually indicates that there’s a loose component in the furnace’s transformer. It’s not necessarily as urgent as a potential carbon monoxide leak, but it can be extremely annoying. And generally speaking, you should take care of these noises right away. Otherwise, your furnace will have to work a lot harder to compensate for its own damage — and that’ll have an impact on your energy costs. Usually, your technician can simply tighten the parts, but it’s a good idea to have them check for other issues at the same time.
- Squealing: Squealing and screeching noises may not require emergency furnace replacement, but they still shouldn’t be ignored. These sounds can indicate a loose or damaged blower belt, a malfunctioning blower motor, or even a need for additional component lubrication. These tend to be easier and more affordable fixes, which means you probably won’t have to worry about getting new furnace installation quite yet. Still, it’s important to take action so that your HVAC system can run smoothly (and that your monthly bills won’t be higher).
- Popping: Clicking or popping sounds can mean something’s wrong with your flame sensor or that the wiring is loose. It could also mean there’s a gas valve leak, that your furnace burners are dirty, or that your air ducts are damaged. It could be a relatively easy fix in some cases, but it may also require new furnace installation. Since the situation could be dangerous, it’s a good idea to call your HVAC company as soon as you notice these sounds.
Contact our heating professionals at Home Comfort Experts today to learn about our services. We serve Northern Indiana and Southwestern Michigan from our 12 locations. Give us a call at (574) 255-4600 to learn about our full complement of heating, cooling, and plumbing services.