Does your furnace clunk, hum, bang, or pop as it works? While a little bit of noise is to be expected, a noisy furnace is NOT NORMAL! A continually noisy furnace is actually a waving red flag that you may need furnace repair. As a homeowner, it is your job to monitor the internal systems of your home, but they often don’t come with a step-by-step explanation. That’s why today, we at Apollo Heating and Air are providing you with an informative guide to identifying and resolving common furnace noises, explaining what each sound might mean, giving a level of concern action, and how we at Apollo Heating & Air can help you address these issues.
Common Furnace Noises and What They Mean:
A furnace, like any other machine, is not going to be 100% silent. You should expect to hear a little bit of noise as it operates. During regular operation, a light hum should come from the blower, and a quick whooshing sound will occur when the burner ignites.
You’ve likely lived in a home with a furnace your entire life, so these gentle noises will be background home sounds you tune out the majority of the time. So, while a “hum” and a “whoosh” aren’t the most technical explanations, you, as a homeowner, likely understand the depth of these noises simply from experience. Therefore, when something sounds out of place, it will draw your attention. Here are the sounds you should keep an ear out for:
#1: Popping
Popping furnace noises can indicate that you may have a problem – however, it depends on the strength of the sounds.
A light popping sound every now and then actually indicates regular operation. This light popping sound can occur due to the expansion and contraction of the home’s ductwork as the temperature changes. For example, the metal will contract when cool air passes through a warm duct. On the other hand, when warm air passes through a cold duct, the metal will expand. Both of these circumstances can cause a light popping sound; this is entirely normal and not a concern.
However, when the strength of the sounds becomes a loud popping sound that happens frequently, this could indicate a need for furnace repair. It may also suggest that your ductwork could potentially need better insulation, a resecuring of its fittings, or that the ductwork is too small to handle your system.
Level of Concern: Discuss During Next Scheduled Maintenance
#2: Banging
Similar to popping sounds, a light bang sound once in a blue moon is likely just a fluke. This can occur in gas furnaces when there is a delayed ignition in the burners. For example, a cause of the delay may be a dirty HVAC filter. The delay causes the gas to build up, so when it does finally ignite, it will go “bang.” The first step for homeowners when they hear this is to check the HVAC filter.
However, if this is a consistent sound you hear even though your HVAC filters are clean or it is an abnormally loud bang – similar to the sounds of a small explosion, it indicates the need for furnace repair. Not only are these sounds disturbing to hear, but the force of the delayed ignition can actually crack your heat exchanger and become an expensive fix.
Level of Concern: Call for Immediate Repair
#3: Squealing or Screeching
Squealing or screeching furnace noises are never a good sign in any machine and indicate the need for immediate furnace repair. It is essential to keep in mind that a furnace is made up of a variety of moving parts, much like the engine of a car. When one of these parts becomes dry, loose, or worn out, it typically starts to make that squeal or screech noise. It is similar to the sound a car will make when the belt comes loose in the engine.
Whether it is the blower belt, blower motor, or the ball bearings holding them in place that are causing your noisy furnace, you will want to get the issue repaired right away.
Level of Concern: Call for Emergency Repair
#4: Rattling
Rattling sounds are an easy indication that something in your furnace is loose; it may be due to loose panels or internal components that need tightening. For example, the most common cause is when a screw gets a little loose and starts rattling around while the furnace is in operation. While ratting sounds aren’t a severe issue that warrants panic, it is a problem that you will want to address quickly.
Level of Concern: Call for Next Available Maintenance Appointment
#5: Humming
As we mentioned earlier, there are a few sounds you will hear coming from your furnace that indicate regular operation. Often, you will just tune them out as background noise. Therefore, a key indicator that a humming noise is becoming an issue is when you take notice. So, while a low hum is to be expected, a loud humming could indicate electrical issues or a failing motor. Both of these concerns warrant furnace repair, as they can compound into more significant issues if not addressed.
Level of Concern: Call for Next Available Maintenance Appointment
#6: Clicking
A noisy furnace that is continuously clicking will likely get your attention quite quickly. This annoying, repetitive sound is often a red warning flag that you have an electrical issue, an ignition problem, or a fault in the gas valve. Any of these three furnace noises can result in furnace failure or costly repair, so it is best to address them immediately. If the outside weather permits, we suggest turning off your HVAC unit entirely until your furnace technician arrives to prevent any extra damage.
Level of Concern: Call for Next Available Maintenance Appointment
#7: Scraping or Clanking
Lastly, if you hear scraping or clanking noises, it indicates a serious concern. The scraping or clanking sound typically occurs when a blower wheel comes loose or breaks. When loose, that wheel scraps painfully or hits loudly against its casing, creating a terrible metal-on-metal chorus. Unlike a rock concert, this metal-on-metal is a miserable sound. Trust us when we say there is no way you can’t notice this noise. Should this happen to you, you will want to turn off your HVAC system completely and call for emergency repair.
Level of Concern: Call for Emergency Repair
Why You Shouldn’t Ignore Furnace Noises:
We understand that dealing with furnace noises may feel inconvenient, especially if you aren’t sure if what you are hearing is the standard operation sounds or an actual problem. We promise that it is worth addressing it right away. Why? Ignoring unusual sounds can lead to costly repairs or even furnace failure. The last thing you want to have happen is for your furnace to go out on a chilly winter night!
Not only does addressing these concerns promptly protect you from severe inconvenience, but prolonged issues like these can reduce energy efficiency, leading to higher utility bills. While it may not seem like much initially, it will quickly add up and worsen. No one likes a surprising utility bill!
Therefore, you save considerably when you get a noise checked out preemptively. The cost and convenience of addressing furnace repair in the early stages of a problem are far better than waiting for a major repair.
Even if you are wrong about a potentially problematic furnace noise, by addressing a noisy furnace promptly, you get that peace of mind knowing your furnace is operating safely and efficiently.
How Apollo Heating & Air Can Help Your Noisy Furnace:
When it comes to a critical component of the home, like a furnace, homeowners need a team they can trust to be there for them when they need them. At Apollo Heating & Air, we are here to serve our community, providing high-quality, transparent solutions to all your furnace repair needs.
When working with us, we provide an expert diagnosis of any random furnace noises you may be experiencing. As factory-trained and certified HVAC technicians, our skilled team members can identify and resolve the source of your noisy furnace so you can rest assured your system is running correctly.
Based on the level of concern we mentioned above, we are available for both preventative maintenance and emergency service checks. With our preventative maintenance, we will do an in-depth check of your system, providing regular maintenance services to ensure your furnace operates smoothly and quietly.
On the other hand, should your furnace be making a scary noise that indicates a high level of concern, we encourage you to take advantage of our 24/7 Emergency Services. We offer an emergency hotline for immediate service so you and your home can remain safe and cared for.
Is your furnace making unusual noises? Don’t wait until it is too late to take action. Contact Apollo Heating & Air today for expert furnace repair and maintenance services to keep your home comfortable.