Did you know whenever a furnace or heater makes strange noises or funny sounds, it could be a warning sign? If you are experiencing unusual sounds, you might want to have your HVAC system looked at to avoid additional problems down the road and even all-out system failure. Nevertheless, we should also note here that sometimes, some sounds are completely normal. Check out our furnace repair page for more information and schedule a Diagnostic Service Call today! Remember, we service all brands!
To help hard-working homeowners here in Southwest Ohio recognize the difference between harmless furnaces noises and those that are warning signs of trouble, we at Middletown Heating & Cooling present the following:
1.) Loud Humming
Humming sounds coming from a heater or furnace, if considerably loud, could be from a defective starting capacitor or some other issue with the furnace motor or blower. If not caught by a technician, this problem could progress into a major catastrophe. Keep in mind, homeowners should always hear a faint humming noise emanating from the furnace, even on the day the unit gets installed. If it becomes obviously louder, however, it’s usually a legitimate reason for concern and your experts at Middletown Heating & Cooling can help you get to the bottom of it.
2.) Popping or Banging
Mild banging sounds or popping noises are usually relatively normal if it’s a unit that utilizes air ducts to transport treated and heated air. Because ductwork is made from sheet metal, they contract and expand when they’re hot or cold. Nevertheless, if you are hearing excessively loud (louder than usual) popping or banging noises and your home isn’t getting the heated air or cooled air you need, there’s probably some sort of problem with the system’s ignition. Once in a while, when a heating unit’s burners become dirty, gas escapes into the unit’s housing. Because it won’t be able to light at the burner if it is escaping, this gas can build up and cause an explosion. Because of this possibility, this problem can be a highly dangerous one. If this is something your heating equipment is doing, please shut it down and call Middletown Heating & Cooling right away. Don’t delay! It’s not risking your home and your safety!
3.) Squealing or Screeching
If you’re hearing screeching or squealing noise that reminds you of nails on a chalkboard, or some sort of metal scratching, and it happens to be coming from your HVAC equipment, it could mean your blower wheel is having problems. The wheel could have come loose from the motor shaft. If so, it could be broken or banging up against the sides of the unit. In any case, screeching sounds usually mean there’s a bad belt or motor blower.
4.) Smacking
If you detect a sort of “thwapping” noise, or hear a smacking sound that reminds you of a playing card flapping against a bicycle spoke, there might be something lodged or stuck in the blower’s blades. If this is the case and the object becomes loose, it could go into the housing and damage something else. Don’t let this happen. Noises are one thing, a broken-down system is a completely different thing.
If your furnace is growling and giving you warning signs, call us today! Furnaces, heaters, and all HVAC equipment are complex systems that are intricate; these machines utilize a whole host of parts and components. Additionally, they also use fuel to generate heat. If you’re hearing any other unfamiliar sounds — thumping, smacking, squealing, rumbling, rolling, banging, loud whistling, etc. — it’s something you should take seriously. We suggest turning the unit off and giving us a call right away to avoid dangerous situations and further damage.
If your furnace isn’t heating properly and it’s beginning to make noises or has been making noises, call Middletown Heating & Cooling today at (513) 268-3789.