Why Is Your Heating System Making Strange Noises?
Winter brings with it the first turning on of the heating system in the home. Because your heating system doesn’t get year-round use, you may be in for a world of problems, especially for the first few weeks. Homeowners may notice strange noises in their home and a heater that simply isn’t working as it used to.
Being able to know what the common causes of banging, squealing, and scratching are can help save time, money, and frustration. This article will discuss some of the more common causes of heater noises, and what you can do to restore comfort in your home.
That Explosion Isn’t Normal
Heaters can make banging noises for a variety of different reasons, many of them nothing homeowners should be significantly worried about. Often, the cause of banging heater noises is just the metal ductwork in the home. As the heat or air conditioning kick on, the metal either expands or contracts.Either one can make the metal bang and pop as its temperature changes. This is not anything to worry about, but it can be annoying. It can, however, be a sign that the air filter needs to be changed. Homeowners should also verify that all of the supply vents are set to the open position.
Another less likely cause of this specific heater noise is a delayed gas ignition problem. This happens when gas builds up in the furnace instead of immediately lighting when turning on. Delayed gas ignition issues should be diagnosed by a professional, as the resulting mini-explosion that happens can be dangerous if left untreated.
Loose Parts Make Squealing Sounds
Another common heater noise is a high pitched squealing. The majority of the time, this type of noise is caused by neglecting routine furnace maintenance. One cause of squealing is that either the inducer motor or the blower motor is starting to wear out. It can also be caused by a misalignment of certain pieces of the blower motor. When this happens, parts of it will scrape together and cause the squealing noise.
In some furnaces, the squealing noise can be fixed just by changing the blower fan speed. Sometimes a simple reduction in speed is all that is needed. Homeowners should also check the air filter and change it if needed. In most cases, these are all things that can be easily fixed by an HVAC professional. However, they should be addressed quickly to avoid other, larger, more expensive problems.
Metal Scraping Metal, Never a Good Thing
One final common heater noise is scraping. The majority of the time, this is a metal on metal type of scraping noise caused by loose parts. In most cases, it is the blower wheel. With a broken blower wheel, the furnace will not be able to adequately heat the home. This is obviously of special importance in the colder months. Broken blower wheels will always need to be addressed by a trained HVAC professional.In some cases, the scraping or grinding noise can also be caused by worn-down bearings, which need to be lubricated and possibly replaced. This is more likely to be the case in an older furnace. While waiting to have the furnace checked out, it should be turned off to stop it from further damage.
So, in conclusion, homeowners should have any new or different furnace noises evaluated by a professional. While most of these issues can be solved quickly and cheaply, some of them can be potentially dangerous or expensive to fix.
Trust Your Local Heating Contractors
The trusted staff at TR Miller Heating & Cooling has been serving the Plainfield and surrounding Chicagoland area’s HVAC needs for three generations. They offer straightforward pricing, 24/7 emergency service, and cutting edge technology serving all brands of HVAC equipment.
