Did you hear that?
If you hear a moan, a boom, or a bang, you might suspect a monster’s in your basement causing trouble, what with all the spooky ghosts and goblins lurking around Northern Virginia this time of year. However, chances are if you hear a sound coming from the basement or closet where your furnace lives, it’s coming from your furnace.
But don’t relax too quickly. It’s important to determine what kind of sound you hear so you know whether or not it’s something that could be dangerous. Sometimes a furnace is just old and creaky, but more often, a furnace noise can signal a serious problem.
Booming – If you hear a boom when the furnace turns on, it could be due to a buildup of gas from a delayed ignition. This requires immediate attention from an HVAC professional since it could be a serious problem.
Clicking – Many times if your furnace keeps clicking, it’s having trouble lighting. It may just be due to a loose wire, but it should be looked at soon since it could also be caused by a leaking gas valve.
Screeching – Screeching or squealing probably have something to do with the motor, a belt, or a bearing. You’re not in immediate danger, but if left unattended it could lead to much bigger problems.
Rattling – When your furnace is running, it may sound like it has a screw loose, and it might. The cover panels may just be loose and you can tighten the screws to hold them in place. But if you don’t find a loose panel, rattling may also mean there is a leak in your heat exchanger – a dangerous concern because this could allow carbon monoxide to leak.
Rumbling – Rumbling may mean that your pilot light needs to be adjusted.
As you can see, it’s always better to be safe than sorry. If you hear a noise, have a brave HVAC technician at Snell Heating and Air Conditioning check it out.
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