You know what is a real nightmare if you were awoken by a screeching coming from your attic or basement. Unless you have some kind of bat infestation (hopefully not!), chances are that what you’re hearing is your furnace. Strange furnace noises are one of the main signs you need heating repair. You will be surprised to know that there are many types of noises which your furnace is able to perform. A scraping noise most likely means that there’s a fault in the blower wheel of the furnace. This noise will sound like metal parts rubbing together, or nails scratching a chalkboard. Yeah, it’s not fun. A “thwapping” sound indicates that something is stuck in the blades of the blower. Moreover, this sound can also be heard when something is stuck inside the housing of the furnace. The sound is similar to the noise made by playing cards when they are attached to the spokes of a bicycle wheel. Banging or popping sounds are very common. Most of the time, these noises come from the air ducts as they expand and contract. These are pretty harmless. However, be on the listen for much louder banging or popping sounds. They could indicate issues with combustion in the furnace. You’ll want to call a furnace technician as soon as possible when you hear any of these sounds, and not just because it’s obnoxious: this noise could indicate issues that lead to significantly higher wear-and-tear on your system.
