Furnace problems can get pretty advanced before giving off obvious warning signs. By the time you notice that your furnace has an issue, it may be too late to prevent the majority of the damage to the system. However, there are still ways that you can catch furnace problems before they have the chance to seriously harm the furnace. One of the best ways to do that is by listening for strange noises. Read on to find out more about strange furnace noises that indicate a problem.
Grinding
Your furnace circulates air throughout the house by using a part called the air handler. The air handler is basically a large fan attached to a motor. In order to cope with the massive amount of friction generated during operation, the motor is equipped with a series of oiled bearings. Over time, these bearings wear down and the friction on the motor increases. This produces a loud grinding sound while the furnace is on. If you hear this, call for repairs as soon as possible. If the bearings are not replaced in time, the air handler motor could overheat and burn out.
Booming
If you’re using a gas furnace, listen for the system making a booming sound when it starts up. This indicates that one or more of the jets in the burner assembly is clogged. As the jets in the assembly burn natural gas, carbon particles collect on them. Over a long enough time, these particles will build up to the point that they prevent some of the jets from firing on time. When the jets do fire, they burn through a lot of gas at once and make a loud boom. Professional cleaning should solve the problem.
Douglas Cooling & Heating offers comprehensive furnace repair services throughout Jefferson County, AL. Call today for more info.
