There’s nothing like the cozy comfort of a toasty warm home in the dead of winter. But if your furnace starts making strange noises, that comfort can quickly become a costly nightmare.
Don’t let yourself be caught off guard – pay attention to these noises that your furnace makes and take action if you hear something wrong. With some preventive care, you can avoid inconvenient furnace repairs and keep your home nice and warm all winter long.
So, keep your ears open, and stay safe!
Most Common Furnaces Noises and What They Mean
If your furnace starts making strange noises, it’s important to take note and investigate the issue. Some furnace sounds are totally normal, while others can indicate a serious problem. Ignoring a potentially serious problem with your furnace could lead to further damage or even a dangerous gas leak.
Contact a professional if you’re unsure about what you’re hearing, or if the problem persists after taking some basic troubleshooting steps.
Here are some of the most common furnace noises and what they could mean:
Banging Sounds
One of the most common furnace sounds is a banging noise. This can be caused by a build-up of dirt and debris in the blower wheel or motor, which makes the wheel unbalanced. When the wheel becomes unstable, it will start to hit the sides of the furnace, causing a banging noise every time it rotates.
This issue is usually easy to fix – simply clean out the blower wheel and motor, and the banging noise should go away. However, if the problem persists, it could be a sign of a more severe issue, like a cracked heat exchanger.
Whistling Noise
A whistling noise from your furnace is usually nothing to worry about – it’s just the sound of air moving through the ductwork. However, if a rattling noise accompanies the whistling noise, it could indicate that your ductwork is loose and needs to be repaired.
A clogged air filter can also cause a whistling noise, restricting the airflow and putting extra strain on the furnace. To fix this problem, simply replace the air filter with a new one.
Hissing Noise
A hissing noise from your furnace is usually caused by a gas leak. If you hear a hissing noise, turn off the furnace immediately and call a professional to investigate the issue. Note that a hissing noise can also be caused by water leaking into the furnace, so if you’re not sure what’s causing the noise, it’s always best to err on the side of caution and call a professional.
Popping Noises
Popping noises coming from your furnace is usually caused by the expansion and contraction of the metal parts as the furnace heats up. This is a completely normal noise and nothing to be concerned about. You might also hear cracking noises as the furnace starts up – this is also normal and is caused by the heat exchanger expanding as it warms up.
Humming Noise
One of the most annoying furnace noises is a humming noise. A variety of issues can cause this, but the most common one is a loose blower wheel. If the blower wheel is loose, it will wobble as it rotates and causes a humming noise.
Tightening the blower wheel usually solves the problem, but if the humming noise persists, it could be a sign of bad motor bearing.
Rumbling Noise
If your furnace sounds like a washing machine on the spin cycle, it’s probably because something is loose inside the furnace. Vibrations from the heater can cause loose parts to rattle around and create a rumbling noise. It’s important to take care of this problem as soon as possible. Loose parts will eventually fall off entirely and potentially cause more damage.
What To Do When You Hear Strange Furnace Noises
If you hear any strange noises coming from your furnace, you should first turn off the heater and call a professional from American Comfort Experts.
Trying to fix the problem yourself could be dangerous and could make the issue worse. A professional will be able to quickly diagnose the problem and get your furnace up and running again. We might even be able to prevent future problems by performing a safety check on your furnace.
In the event that repairs are not possible or too expensive, we can also help you choose and install a new furnace. If you’re having trouble with your furnace, or if you just have questions, don’t hesitate to give us a call at (281) 256-3433. We’re always happy to help!
