What Does that Noise Mean?

2 Comment(s) Posted February 20, 2012 at 9:36am

If you’ve been running your furnace for a long time, every now and then you might hear it making some strange noises. Around this time, we at Magnolia Heating & Air Conditioning start getting calls from people all around the area asking what the different noises mean, and whether or not they should start thinking about furnace repair. That’s why we’ve made things easier by writing out the most common noises people hear – and what to do about them!

Most Common Furnace Noises

Whining

If your furnace is making a whining noise, it most likely means you’ve got an air leak somewhere in your furnace. The most common places your furnace can leak air are the base, combustion air blower and return air grille. No matter where you’ve got air leaks, it’s generally a serious problem you should have fixed right away.

Should I get my furnace repaired? : YES.

Moaning

If your furnace is moaning, it’s probably because of worn motor beatings. If the noise gets really bad, it may be time to install a new motor and wheel.

Should I get my furnace repaired? : YES.

Low Rattling Noise

If you hear a low rattling noise about 30 seconds before your blower kicks on, you could have a serious problem like a crack in your heat exchanger. This should be checked out and fixed right away – otherwise it could result in a carbon monoxide leak!

Should I get my furnace repaired? : YES.

Clicking and Wooshing Noise

If you hear this strange combination of noises, it could mean a gas valve is leaking. A Magnolia Heating & Air Conditioning technician can help you figure out where your furnace is leaking gas.

Should I get my furnace repaired? : YES.

Other Common Furnace Noises

• A consistent rattling noise may indicate that something in your ductwork is loose
• A series of booming or popping noises could mean the metal ducts are expanding
• Loud booms may be the result of dirty burners

When it comes down to it, your furnace is not supposed to make any weird noises. If you hear something coming from your furnace and you want to have a Magnolia Heating & Air Conditioning technician come check it out, call us today! We can assess the problem and help you figure out if you need furnace repair in Maryland, Virginia or DC.