If you live in Dallas, GA, your home likely relies on a gas furnace for heat. They’re the most common and popular heating option in the area. That’s because they offer a great mix of affordability, comfort, and safety that homeowners love. However, it’s important to remember that a gas furnace involves controlled combustion happening in your home. And despite their impressive safety records, gas furnaces can malfunction. When they do, you may notice some unusual noises coming from your furnace. Here are some common sounds an ailing furnace may make, why they happen, and which warrant concern.
Popping or Clicking
By far, the most common sound a gas furnace can make while running is also the hardest to isolate. If your furnace starts making popping or clicking sounds while it runs, it could be coming from virtually anywhere. It may not even indicate a malfunction. For example, if your furnace makes popping and clicking sounds soon after startup, you could be hearing thermal expansion. That’s the name for the expansion that the metals in your furnace and ductwork undergo when they heat up. If that’s what you’re hearing, it should stop within a few minutes of each furnace cycle.
Unfortunately, some more serious issues can cause pops and clicks while your furnace runs. One is dirty furnace burners. They can interfere with combustion just enough to cause small pops as the gas ignites, but fails to stay lit. That will lead to reduced operating efficiency and may even reduce your furnace’s heat output. To prevent such problems, it’s important to have your furnace maintained according to its manufacturer’s recommendations.
Even more seriously, popping and clicking noises can indicate a cracked heat exchanger. The sound can come from joints separating due to thermal stress. The good news is that cracked heat exchangers are rare in all but the oldest furnaces. However, a cracked heat exchanger is one of the most serious issues a furnace may develop. It can allow carbon monoxide to seep into your home, posing a threat to everyone inside. To guard against that, it’s important to test your home’s carbon monoxide detectors regularly. And if they start going off, evacuate your home and contact emergency services immediately. After first responders ensure your home’s safety, we’ll address your furnace problem.
Rattling Sounds
Another common type of sound gas furnace owners report is rattling. The good news is that, in most cases, it isn’t indicative of a safety issue. Most often, the rattling comes from a loose access door on your furnace. That’s easy enough to fix, often by re-tightening a few screws or clips holding the door in place. However, some sources of furnace rattling are a bit more serious.
One of the more serious issues that may cause rattling is a loose blower motor or blower wheel. Those problems can lead to vibrations during operation, causing unnecessary wear. If you ignore the problem long enough, the motor’s mounts or even the motor itself can suffer damage. That can turn what was a minor maintenance issue into the need for costly repairs.
Chirping or Squealing
Another sound you may hear from an ailing furnace is a chirping noise. If it goes unaddressed for long enough, it may even turn into a high-pitched squeal. If you hear this sound for a moment or two the first time you use your furnace each year, it may not indicate a problem. However, if the sound doesn’t stop almost immediately or persists, you shouldn’t ignore it.
If yours is an older furnace, the sound could be a result of a worn-out blower motor belt. Fortunately, the most likely outcome of ignoring the noise is that the belt may slip off or break. That would prevent your furnace from continuing to operate, but with little lasting damage. However, if yours is a newer furnace, a chirping or squealing noise can indicate failing blower motor bearings. That’s more serious because it indicates friction within the motor. If the bearings fail completely, the motor could seize and suffer major damage. That makes prompt repairs a good idea, no matter the source of the noise. Most modern furnace blowers have replaceable bearings, and belts are also replaceable, making repairs straightforward.
Whistling
There’s another sound you may hear coming from your furnace that’s not dissimilar from chirping or squealing: whistling. The good news is that whistling sounds almost always have a benign cause. The most frequent cause of such sounds is a dirty air filter. That causes restricted airflow and leads to the whistling noises as pressure inside your ducts increases. You may also hear similar sounds if you close too many vents or leave furniture blocking your return air ducts. Most of the time, replacing the filter or removing the obstructions will solve the problem.
It’s worth noting, however, that you can also hear whistling if your ductwork suffers damage. For example, a damaged duct joint can allow enough airflow through to produce the noise. When that happens, you may notice decreased airflow coming from your home’s vents. It’s important to address ductwork issues right away, because they can negatively affect indoor air quality and HVAC efficiency.
Booming Sounds
One of the scariest sounds a gas furnace can make while malfunctioning is a booming noise. It sounds like a small explosion, and it can startle you when your furnace starts up. The reason it sounds like an explosion is that’s exactly what’s happening. The sound often results from a failing furnace ignitor or a burner issue. That can cause a buildup of natural gas in the combustion chamber, which then explodes when the ignitor finally activates.
Fortunately, delayed ignition rarely represents a threat to your safety. The combustion chamber in your furnace can handle the heat and pressure with relative ease. That doesn’t mean you should ignore the sound, though. Persistent delayed ignition can lead to unnecessary wear and tear on various parts of your furnace. It also indicates a furnace that’s seriously in need of repair.
Your Local Gas Furnace Repair Experts
If the gas furnace in your Dallas home starts making strange sounds, it’s a good idea to find out why. Our experts at Precision Heating & Air would be happy to help you do that. We have over a collective 60 years of experience, so there’s no furnace noise our team hasn’t heard before. Plus, our NATE-certified technicians have the training and experience to repair gas furnaces of any make or model. We even offer emergency services if your furnace needs urgent attention outside regular business hours. We also encourage you to read some of our customer reviews. We’ve served thousands of customers over the years, many of whom left us glowing reviews. They speak volumes about what you can expect while working with us. So, if the furnace in your Dallas home starts making unusual noises, contact Precision Heating & Air for a service appointment!
