Beware The Haunting Noises Coming From Your Furnace!
There’s a reason that heaters and furnaces are usually relegated to basements, garages, or out-of-the-way closets. They’re scary! Jumping out and yelling “heater repair” to a homeowner will probably scare them more than yelling “boo.” High utility bills and repair costs add to the anxiety that homeowners feel about their HVAC system. Add that to the fact that heaters can keep homeowners up at night with creepy noises, and it's clear why homeowners dread heater problems.
However, those creepy noises can be helpful indicators to help people know what is going on inside their HVAC system. Below are some examples of noises that indicate a heater repair will be necessary in the near future.
Scraping and Grinding
A furnace and air conditioner are separate parts of the same system. However, they both use the same blowers and ductwork to distribute temperature-controlled air around a home. The result is that the blower gets used twice as much as the air conditioner or heater portion of an HVAC system. Because of this, problems with blower wheels and motors are common needs for heater repair.
When scraping and grinding are heard within a heater, there is a good chance that something has happened to the blower or motor. The motor turns the blower at high speeds to push air through ductwork. The grinding or screeching means that some problem is allowing the blower to rub against its housing or a bearing is failing on the blower shaft or within the motor. A heater repair professional will be needed to repair any of these issues.
Banging Sounds
Banging sounds coming from a heater can be truly unnerving, but they often have a straightforward explanation. Most commonly, banging sounds result from poorly secured ductwork expanding from the heat coming from a furnace. The solution is to ensure that the duct is properly sized and secured so that it can handle the heat and won’t move as it expands. An HVAC technician can calculate the proper size of the duct to verify that it is correct, and they can secure and insulate the duct properly to prevent the noise.
Another cause of the banging sounds in a furnace is a dirty burner. Dirty burners cause gas to build up inside the combustion chamber. When the gas finally ignites, it causes a small explosion. This is dangerous and should be addressed immediately by a qualified heating repair professional. To prevent this from happening, seasonal furnace maintenance is very helpful.
Screeching or Whining
Screeching is an indicator that something is about to fail but hasn’t failed yet. Screeching noises coming from heaters are usually caused by worn drive belts or dry bearings that are failing. The belts and bearings are part of the blower unit, but the screeching sound is distinctly different from grinding noises.
Routine maintenance programs from heating and air contractors will inspect belts and grease bearings as necessary to prevent this from happening. However, once the screeching sounds are heard, heater repairs will be necessary to prevent a total breakdown in the near future.
About Vetted HVAC Services
Local homeowners may know that Vetted HVAC Services is the trusted name for Yorktown heating services, but some may not realize that they also offer expert plumbing and electrical services! With their many years of experience and always upfront pricing, they are ready and able to assist with all home service needs! Call Vetted HVAC Services today for emergency heating in Yorkton, as well as other services..
