There are many potential reasons behind the different duct noises you may hear from your HVAC system from time to time. These duct noises can be perfectly normal, but some indicate bigger issues that you should have addressed right away. Regardless, if you hear a lot of noise from your ducts when you turn on the heat for the winter, this can be a sign of trouble.
One of the less serious causes of noisy ducts is simply built up dust and debris in your ductwork and on vent covers. You can check ducts and vents yourself to make sure they are not clogged. From there, if you still notice odd noises and sounds frequently, you should contact your heating & air conditioning service team for help.
Common Duct Noises
In addition to dirt and grime, one of the other common causes of duct noises is an undersized duct system. Ducts that are too small for the airflow in your home will be sucked in by changing air pressure. This can be annoying, but will not cause too many major problems.
Another potential culprit for duct noises is loose joints or fixtures. If your ducts are not sealed correctly or are loose, you will hear a lot of rattling and potentially banging noises as well. A bit of added insulation around the ducts — as well as tightening any loose connections — can sometimes fix the problem entirely.
A banging noise, however, can be one of the more worrying furnace noises. Some duct noises you will hear are not actually coming from the ducts at all. Rather, your ducts carry noise around the house from your HVAC unit itself as well. So banging, grinding, or chirping noises may be coming from the unit itself. If that is the case, it might be time to have a professional take a look.
One thing you can check on your own, however, is whether your furnace is getting enough airflow. The manufacturer should provide guidelines for the temperature difference between return and supply air. You can check these, and if they are off, you might have an airflow issue.
When to Call in Help
From there, it is best to let a professional service team take over. There are a lot of components in your HVAC system that all affect each other. Something that might appear to be just an issue with duct noises may actually be a noisy issue in your unit’s fan motor or heating component. If you cannot find the cause of your duct noises, get in touch with a professional right away.
Another thing to look out for is how long the duct noises last. Constant noise is a sign of a serious problem while intermittent duct noises are more likely to be due to loose connections or built up dust. Regardless of what is causing the noise, a regular cleaning and maintenance check can go a long way towards keeping your HVAC system running smoothly. Have your HVAC system, including your ducts, checked out before the scary noises start.
Learn More About Duct Noise Causes
If you are concerned about noises from your ducts, or are simply looking for a maintenance check up for your heating & air conditioning system, in St. Louis, and the surrounding areas, connect with the experts at Galmiche & Sons today!
