“What’s making that sound?”
It began this morning when your heater turned on and seems to be getting worse. Well, the truth is that the sound might be coming from your heater. As a heater gets used and worn down over time, it can start to show signs of stress. This includes making strange noises while working.
If your Oak Lawn, IL heating system is making strange noises while it is running, it may be time to call for a repair. Even if the noise turns out to be something small, you should still fix your system before things get worse. In the long run, it saves time and money.
5 Sounds Your Heater Shouldn’t Make
Have a heater that is loud? Don’t just let things get worse! Contact a professional HVAC technician right away if your heater makes any of the following noises:
- Hissing: Does your heater make a hissing noise? This isn’t the same as the rush of air that your system should make. Hissing could mean that there is a leak in the refrigerant line of a heat pump. If a furnace hisses, it could mean that there is a gas leak. In either case, you should turn off the system to avoid making things worse and have a technician check it out.
- Rattling: It might sound like something in your heating system is moving around. Most likely, you’re right on the money with this! Most of the time, rattling means that a heater has a loose part that is shaking in its housing as it works. Find out what’s wrong and fix it quickly, before the problem gets worse.
- Shrieking: When you turn on your heater, it might sound like it’s shrieking at you. That is wrong! When you hear metal scraping against metal, there is probably a problem in the system. This can happen if a fan blade is loose or if the motor belt is dry.
- Booming: another sound that is scary to hear. In a heat pump, this could mean that the system is too big and is putting stress on the ducts. In a furnace, it can also mean that the system is too big or that the fire didn’t start right away.
- Silence: Does your furnace work so quietly that you don’t even know it’s on? Well, it’s a shame, but if your furnace isn’t making any noise, it’s likely not running at all. This is a clear sign that you need to fix it before you need to replace it.
Of course, sounds aren’t the only sign that something is wrong. There may be something wrong with your heater if it smells funny, doesn’t heat well, or has high bills. No matter what the warning sign is, though, you should always do the same thing: call for help.
Contact Oak Lawn HVAC to book an appointment for our heating repair services. We have answers for every time of year.