If you've ever tried to imitate an odd noise over the phone, then you know how urgent and silly you can feel at the same time.
The more information a Chico heating system repair company has about the moaning, groaning or bang-bang-bang noises your furnace is making, the better it will be able to assess the situation – at least until they arrive at your home for a furnace inspection.
It might help to set your expectations accordingly because no matter what kind of noise is streaming from a furnace, we're often asked: “Do you think my heating system needs to be fixed?” The short answer is “probably” because like most complex pieces of machinery (think of your car), a furnace usually makes odd noises when it's in a state of distress.
The most common furnace noises are:
- A rattling noise. This is one heating system repair that many homeowners can tackle themselves – if it can be traced to a loose cover panel that simply needs a turn of a screwdriver to silence. If the noise continues, it could indicate a leak in the heat exchanger, which could emit higher and dangerous levels of carbon monoxide into your home. This is one heating system repair you should never delay.
- A clicking noise. Depending on what's troubling your furnace, this noise can be anywhere from infrequent to constant in duration. Most often, a leaky gas valve or loose wiring is stirring up trouble. Both require a heating system repair.
- A bang or popping noise when your furnace fires up. This noise often can be traced to a buildup of dirt on the furnace burners, which interferes with the furnace igniting. As the furnace struggles to light, the gas steadily builds up. When the gas finally ignites, the furnace makes a loud bang or popping noise. Here's yet another reason why Experts In Your Home advocates a yearly furnace maintenance check; keeping your furnace clean is one of the simplest and most vital steps you can take to ensure its steady performance. In this case, yearly maintenance also is prudent; small bangs or pops could eventually crack the heat exchanger, which is one costly heating system repair.
- A high-pitched squealing, screeching or whining noise. One of three conditions usually is at work: A loose, slipped or frayed blower belt; shaft bearings that need oil; or a malfunctioning blower motor.
- A loud scraping noise, resembling metal scraping on metal. This noise often can be traced to the furnace's blower wheel, where a number of problems might be festering: the wheel came loose and is hitting the blower casing; the wheel is broken; or the motor mount broke, causing the entire blower assembly to drop and hit the housing.
- A rumbling noise, much like a clap of thunder. Often caused by dirty gas burners or an improperly set pilot light, this is a relatively quick heating system repair.
Always err on the side of caution and consider all of these noises a cry for help from your furnace. So turn it off and contact Experts In Your Home. By the time you put on a sweater and warm up, an expert should be at your door – prepared to fix your ailing furnace and silence those odd noises once and for all.
Prevent your heating system from making odd noises by following the maintance checklist below:
