Generally, hearing strange noises from various parts of your house indicates that you should investigate them. You know, your air conditioner, your furnace, that weird basalt chest carved with unnerving frescoes you found in your attic when you moved in.
We can’t really help you with that last one, but for this blog post we’re going to focus on the furnace. Odd furnace noises are typically an indication that the system is malfunctioning in some way. Have a look below to find out more about what causes strange noises, and what you can do about them.
Short Cycling
We’re going to start with the most damaging issue that you’re likely to notice thanks to odd noises. Short cycling is when the furnace turns on and off every couple of minutes, rather than completing a full heating cycle. Short cycling cuts into the furnace’s heating capacity, but it also accelerates the rate at which the system accumulates wear and tear.
Over time, a short cycling furnace will be more likely to break down and will have its lifespan shortened by a number of years. If you want to save money on repairs, or even installing a new system, call for repairs if you notice your furnace short cycling.
Grinding
Inside your furnace is a part called the air handler, which is responsible for circulating air throughout the home while the system is operating. The air handler motor contains a number of oiled bearings, which help to reduce the amount of friction on the part. Over time, these bearings will wear out and the friction on the motor will increase. The added friction will cause the motor to make a loud grinding sound while the furnace is on. If you hear that sound, you need to make sure that you have a professional take a look at the part before it burns out.
Delayed Ignition
If your furnace is making a loud booming sound when it first turns on, you probably have a delayed ignition issue. Gas furnaces use burner assemblies to combust fuel, which causes carbon particles to build up and clog the jets over time.
If the assembly goes long enough without being cleaned off, it will become clogged to the point that the jets will have trouble igniting on time. When the jets do ignite, they burn through a lot of gas at once and make that booming sound. If you hear that sound, you should call a professional to clean out your burner assembly as soon as possible. The longer you wait, the greater the chance that the assembly will become completely clogged and the furnace will fail to ignite at all.
Area Heating & Cooling, Inc. provides comprehensive furnace repair services throughout Vancouver, WA. If you have reason to believe that your furnace is in need of repairs, contact us today to schedule an appointment with one of our expert technicians. We’ll make sure that your furnace stays in top condition for as long as possible.
