It can sometimes be easy to tune-out certain sounds. Cars on the street outside of your home, birds chirping outdoors—things we can take for granted. But what you should definitely never take for granted is any unfamiliar noise that comes from your furnace. The reason you shouldn’t ignore this is because it’s a clear sign that something is wrong with your furnace and requires your immediate attention. By calling our pros as soon as you notice something is amiss, you can help ensure your furnace gets back in shape and is able to provide you with effective and efficient heat for the years to come.
Not only that, but attending to furnace problems quickly protects your safety. That’s not to say that furnaces are inherently dangerous. But when not properly cared for, they can become unsafe. Read on as we uncover some of the sounds you should always pay attention to.
Screeching
Did you hear a loud screeching noise, only to investigate outside and find nothing that could have explained the noise? It may very well be your furnace, and it could be a sign of a blower motor problem. A malfunctioning blower motor indicates that the heat being produced by your system isn’t circulating throughout your home successfully. So not only will you not be as warm, you risk your furnace completely shutting down due to overheating.
The thing is, this is generally an easy fix for our pros. It probably means that your blower motor needs lubrication, or that something has damaged the fan. The only way to properly diagnose what’s going on is to call in a pro.
Clanking
Do you hear something that resembles the sound of metal-on-metal? Well then you probably are hearing metal-on-metal, and it’s likely a sign of a serious issue with the furnace’s blower wheel. If this is indeed the case, you must turn off your furnace and contact a professional right away to prevent further damage. More damage to the wheel means a hurting wallet, too.
“Banging” or “Booming”
You may hear this noise when your furnace first starts up because of a dirty burner. This may sound like a benign problem, but it can be quite harmful. This noise is caused by a delay in ignition. What’s happening is that the jets are firing, but the gas builds up beneath the dirt and grime on your burners and then creates a small explosion as it finally does break through and ignites.
This can lead to subsequent problems, such as a cracked heat exchanger. A cracked heat exchanger can be dangerous since it will lead to carbon monoxide exposure in your home, which can be fatal! This is a serious issue, and if you hear this noise it’s important to give us a call right away. If your heat exchanger is cracked, you may also hear a hissing and/or rattling noise as your furnace runs. Don’t brush off these noises, give our pros a call.
When you need reliable furnace repair in Sacramento, CA contact Sierra Pacific Home & Comfort, Inc.: The Guys in the Big Red Trucks!