We’ve all heard the horror stories of someone’s house going up in flames thanks to an old furnace becoming a fire risk. We want to give you some reassurance here. These instances involve systems that are in serious disrepair even need to just be replaced. Furnaces don’t just set things on fire out of nowhere. Gas-burning systems are built to be as safe as possible. They should remain safe to use too as long as you are on top of scheduling furnace service in Beaverton, OR.
You may be wondering what some of the earlier signs of furnace trouble are. How do you know when to schedule service long before things take a turn for the worse? Listen to your system! No, we don’t mean to try to get your furnace to talk. We mean listen to the sounds it makes when it runs.
A Noisy Furnace Is One That Needs Repairs
When you run a furnace that is in good shape, you shouldn’t hear from it too much. Common noises from an operating furnace may include the whoosh of hot air being passed through your ducts or a small amount of clicking or crackling at the end of the heating cycle. Noises that are outside of these, or are louder or more concerning, shouldn’t be brushed off. New, worrying sounds should prompt you to reach out to a professional for service.
5 Furnace Noises That Mean Trouble
When you hear these sounds, make sure to reach out to us for assistance.
- Rattling: Do you hear the sound of something shaking around in your system? If so, that rattling noise could be created by loose parts that need to be addressed by a professional. The sooner you get these parts tightened, the better. This noise will only worsen.
- Clanking: Remember how we mentioned that the rattling noise would only get worse? This is the sound that comes after. If a loose part isn’t fixed, it may break free and start bouncing around inside your furnace or your ductwork, creating a clanking or clanging noise.
- Screeching: If it sounds like your furnace is screaming, it is a good idea to get your system checked ASAP. Screeching is often created by loose fan blades scraping around their housing or by a blower motor belt in need of some lubrication.
- Hissing: Does your furnace imitate an angry cat? Don’t be fooled, hissing air and whooshing air are not the same. Hissing can first be created by air forcing its way through a clogged air filter in your furnace. The other cause of this noise may be a cracked heat exchanger. In either case, contact a professional ASAP to make sure you have your furnace checked to ensure it isn’t becoming a safety hazard.
- Booming: When you turn on your furnace, you may have started to notice a delay in how long it takes to create heat. This may be emphasized by a loud BOOM that is shortly followed by heat coming from your vents. This isn’t good. Booming is created when your furnace’s burners are clogged with debris, which delays the ignition of gas. This allows the gas to collect until it ignites with a small explosion. This is very hard on your system, to say the least.
Have a noisy furnace? Contact The Clean Air Act for service. Please call Sydni, our Office Extraordinaire, to schedule your next appointment! We will take care of you from there!