Your heating system might be making some spooky sounds as you turn it on for the cold weather. Some are perfectly normal, but others can signal that your HVAC unit is in need of urgent care.
Check out this list of scary HVAC noises and what they mean.
Scraping or Metal-on-Metal: when you hear scraping or clanking it could mean issues with the blower wheel or the fan may have come loose or is broken. Whatever is causing the sound, any indication of metal-on-metal contact needs immediate attention.
Banging or Clanking: if you have a furnace and hear a banging or clanking sound coming from your unit, you might imagine ghouls in the attic or basement clanking chains, but it’s probably just a loose part on your HVAC system. An HVAC professional can pinpoint where the sound is coming from and replace the part that has broken off or needs to be tightened.
However, if you have a boiler and hear banging noises, this can be indicative of a serious issue and should be investigated immediately. One common cause of banging noises in a boiler is kettling, which occurs when mineral deposits build up on the inside of the boiler’s heat exchanger. This can be caused by hard water running through the boiler over a period of years. Other potential causes of banging noises include a faulty pump or a blocked pipe.
Whistling: dirty filters can make it sound like there’s a ghost in your walls. The sound is caused by air trying to rush through blocked filters. A simple swap for clean filters can put that ghostly noise in the grave once and for all.
Clicking: a clicking noise is normal when your furnace is first turning on. But, if your furnace starts to click, the blower turns on, and then back off again, you could have a problem with your flame sensor. A repetitive clicking noise can mean there’s an issue with the HVAC relay process or thermostat, which is the command center for the system.
Rattling: a rattling noise could mean nothing serious, or it could mean something very serious. This noise may indicate one of the following problems:
- A Loose Panel or Screw: while a loose panel or a loose screw is something you want to have fixed soon, it’s usually not something that puts you and your family at immediate risk.
- A Leak or Crack in Your Heat Exchanger: this is a much more serious issue. If not addressed quickly, this is very dangerous. Faulty heat exchanges can end up leaking carbon monoxide into your home, which can be fatal. Having an annual maintenance can greatly reduce exposure to carbon monoxide and keep your home and family safe.
Rumbling/Booming: rumbling sounds can indicate problems with your blower motor, burners, flame sensor or pilot light. A loud boom can indicate a delayed ignition problem*. Homeowners report that this booming noise coming from an HVAC unit sounds a lot like a gunshot. If you have a boiler, listen for hissing, thumping or banging sounds. They are all a sign something may be wrong.
* If you experience the loud boom when your system finally ignites, don’t let this problem continue. It can damage the heat exchanger and allow deadly carbon monoxide poisoning in your Connecticut home. And that’s a real HVAC horror story! It can also completely burn out the furnace if not addressed. The sooner you address the problem, the better off you will be in your overall comfort.
Whining/Screeching/Squealing: These high-pitched noises will certainly get your attention. Is it a poltergeist trying to make contact with you through your home’s heating system? More than likely, it’s not. Squealing sounds often indicate that there’s an issue with the fan or motor in your furnace. It may not be as serious as some other noises, but waiting too long can certainly cause more serious damage.
Gurgling: gurgling noises are common in boilers and are often caused by trapped air in the system. This can be easily fixed by bleeding the radiators to release any trapped air. However, gurgling can also be a sign of low water pressure, which can cause damage to the boiler if left unchecked. Checking the boiler’s pressure gauge can help identify if low water pressure is the cause of the gurgling noise.
There are a lot of spooky sounds that you hear around Halloween, but not all of them mean that your house is haunted. Be aware of any unusual sound effects coming from your heating system. Rest assured, it’s not a ghost – but scary HVAC noises can be your system’s way of trying to tell you something is wrong.
Contact the spooky sound experts at TMS today for more information!
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Sources: https://www.centralhtg.com/blog/why-you-shouldnt-ignore-strange-noises-from-your-boiler, https://www.njrhomeservices.com/four-scary-heating-system-noises-you-shouldnt-ignore/#:~:text=Rumbling%20sounds%20can%20indicate%20problems,sign%20something%20may%20be%20wrong., https://www.russobrosplumbing.com/blog/scary-hvac-noises-to-worry-about, https://www.dgheatingandair.com/blog/2019/october/spooky-sounds-coming-from-your-hvac-unit/, https://www.mertsheating.com/blog/scary-furnace-sounds-never-ignore/, https://trustacree.com/blog/scary-sounds-coming-from-your-hvac-unit-you-should-never-ignore/
