Furnaces are tricky machines, and as we have said time and time again, you have to understand that they need regular maintenance. Yes, some may run flawlessly for years without a single issue. But to rely on luck like that is risky, and neglecting to have your furnace serviced regularly could end up costing you more in the long run.
But there are also times when you don’t necessarily have to pay to have a technician come out to make repairs. Sometimes it will be less expensive and more efficient to make the repair yourself!
Let’s go over some of the noises that we’ve heard complaints about the most, and learn about the best way to get them repaired.
Banging: Furnaces will commonly make a loud banging noise for a few different reasons.
First of all, you need to be sure that the issue is not “delayed ignition”. If your furnace is banging just as you start it up, it might be delayed ignition. This can be a serious danger to your home and the people inside of it. Basically, unburned oil builds up in the firebox chamber of the furnace, and ignites all at once. If unchecked, this can lead to fires starting, or even explosions. Call a technician right away to get this resolved.
The issue may also be just some warped ducts. When the air pressure changes throughout the ducts, paneling can get warped and make a banging noise when they pop back into place. This can be easily fixed by screwing a thicker sheet of metal wherever the original duct is weakening. This issue is referred to as “oil-canning”.
Rattling: Rattling is usually a simple fix, depending on where the rattling is coming from. Try tightening up any and all loose screws on the unit. The running motor may have shaken them loose somewhere along the furnace’s lifetime.
You might also stop the rattling by adding some duct tape around loose ducts or any other loose equipment. Another quick fix might be to add a piece of cork or something like it beneath the stands on the furnace.
Airy Noises or Whistling: These sounds can be caused by cracks in the duct work, or a bad filter.You can seal up any holes you find in the duct work, and see if that makes the whistling stop. If it doesn’t, there is a good chance that your filter needs a cleaning and/or replacement.
Dirty filters cause the fans to work harder, pulling air from anywhere that it can. Try pulling the filter out and see if that solves the issue. If so, you’ll either need to give it a good wash before you put it back in, or simply replace it.
While it is good to review all these scenarios, we haven’t covered every possible issue. It is always a good idea to try to make fixes on your own, but some issues are always better off dealt with by a professional. Most of these problems like warped duct work, and dirty filters will be caught by a technician anyways, which is why we strongly recommend regular maintenance.
Arco Home Services offers a Service Maintenance Plan, which you can sign up for by asking your technician at your next appointment. Simply by scheduling annual appointments, you can rest assured knowing that your furnace will be running at its maximum potential, and your home will be warm for you and your family.
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