Depending on the age and condition of your furnace, the furnace noises you hear can vary quite a bit. Some noises are normal, especially as your furnace ages. Others, however, can indicate a serious problem and should be dealt with right away. Learning to tell the difference in furnace noises, and how to differentiate them from duct noises, can help you avoid higher heating bills, wear and tear, and even HVAC breakdowns. Plus, the more you learn about your heating & air conditioning system, the better you can use and maintain it over the years. If you are worried about any furnace sounds you hear, and you would like a diagnosis from a professional HVAC company, give us a call in the greater St. Louis area!
Identifying Different Furnace Noises
So why learn about your furnace and the different noises it makes? Even if you do not have to deal with a serious problem, furnace noises can indicate the need for adjustments that will help your furnace run more efficiently, lowering your energy bills. Knowing more about furnace sounds and noises can also help you communicate with your service team and direct them towards the right solution. This is especially important if the furnace noises are intermittent and they cannot be heard when the maintenance team gets there.
There are five basic types of furnace sounds: screeches, squeals, rattling, booming, and chirping. Some of these sound pretty similar, especially screeches and squeals, so make sure to contact a professional if you are not sure what you are hearing.
- Screeches and squeals are a big problem. These furnace noises can indicate a problem with the blower belt or blower motor. So if you hear something in this category, get your unit checked out immediately.
- Chirping on the other hand, is the least worrying of furnace sounds. A shorter, less harsh chirping at the beginning of the cold season can be completely normal. This is one of the furnace noises that might not need to addressed immediately, but should be monitored and addressed if it continues.
- Rattling can be caused by a few different things, from debris in the ducts to loose components somewhere in the system. A first step is to clean your HVAC system. Then, if the rattling continues or gets worse, you may have a more serious problem.
- If you hear a booming sound coming from your furnace, this is likely a delayed ignition problem. This is one of the furnace noises that indicates a dangerous problem.
When to Call a Professional
It is reasonable that for furnace sounds and noises like booming and screeching, you should call a professional right away. For less troublesome noises as well though, it is almost always a good idea to have a professional inspect your unit. If you cannot get a particular noise to stop, or notice a lot of new noises from your furnace, there may be damage happening inside the unit even if it seems okay from the outside.
Get Your Furnace Noises Diagnosed
Wear and tear over time can cause big problems for your HVAC system, so, if you are not able to find the source of a furnace noise yourself or get it to stop, get in touch with Galmiche & Sons’ heating & air conditioning professionals in St. Louis for a maintenance check right away.
