What is Causing Those Heater System Noises Inside Your Home?

Diagnosing and Addressing Different Heater Noises!

It can be very unsettling to hear loud or unusual noises from your heater system. Especially if those noises come during the quiet hours of the night. If you’re hearing noises from your furnace or concerned about some of the sounds that it’s making, you’re not alone. This is a relatively common issue and one that can be caused by a number of things.

Some of them are easy to address and don’t indicate a major problem, others are more serious and require a professional to resolve. Here is some helpful information about different types of HVAC noises to help you address unusual furnace noises.

Loud Banging Noises

Banging sounds are often caused by dirty burners. If your furnace’s burners are not regularly cleaned, dirt will build up around the burners. If this isn’t addressed, it can cause a delay in the ignition of the gas that goes into your system.

This delay can lead to a buildup of gas and a small explosion when ignition finally does take place. Obviously, this can be dangerous and can damage your heater.

If you hear this sound, contact a professional to have your system inspected and cleaned as soon as possible. You can avoid this issue by having regular tune-ups, which will clean the burners and remove any concerning buildup.

Screeching or Squealing Sounds

A squealing sound from your heater usually indicates an issue with the blower motor. It could mean that some components are wearing out or it could simply mean that they’re misaligned. It could also mean that you have a loose fan belt or that your unit needs lubricant. If you’re comfortable tightening the fan belt or adding some lubricant, you can start by doing those things on your own.

If that doesn’t resolve the problem, you’ll want to contact a professional for a heater inspection. Whether it’s simply an alignment issue, a simple maintenance issue, or you’re in need of new parts, handling this issue in a timely manner will avoid additional problems and will enable you to address the issue before you have a heater outage.

Scraping Sounds

A scraping sound or the sound of metal on metal can be caused by a few things including a loose blower wheel, a broken blower wheel, or a broken motor mount. If not addressed, these issues can cause additional problems to your unit.

If you hear a scraping sound, it’s a good idea to turn off your heater and call a professional. Don’t run the furnace again until it’s been inspected and repaired to avoid a more serious problem. Hopefully, these tips will help you determine the cause of heater noises.

If you’re hearing an unusual noise from your furnace or concerned about how it’s functioning, it’s always a good idea to contact an HVAC professional. Addressing furnace issues as soon as possible can help to minimize any damage and to avoid an HVAC emergency.

Expert Service a Call Away

Nice Heating & Air is an award-winning HVAC company in the Alexandria area. With an industry-leading 100% satisfaction guarantee, they commit to meeting and exceeding their customers’ expectations on every job.