We all are using our heating system daily with the colder temperatures, which means our HVAC company is getting more service call requests for noise issues with their heating equipment.

Noisy air handlers or furnace heating systems are a very common complaint. If you are concerned about “heating noises,” pay very close attention where the sound is coming from and think about how to best describe that noise.

Here are a few suggestions to consider if you hear noises from your heating system.

Metal hitting metal

If you hear something that can best be described as “metal hitting metal,” you should turn off your heating system immediately. You may have an issue with the blower housing or blower assembly in your heating unit. Most likely it is out of balance or possibly has a broken motor mount.

Contact the experts at Patterson Heating & Air Conditioning’s office and place a service call, so we can assess your situation and make the best recommendation for you. Our goal is to do our best to repair your system, but sometimes older equipment may need to be replaced, versus being repaired.

Thumping noise coming from my heating system in Charlotte

A thumping noise, like an out-of-balance washing machine, could be the result of a motor being out of balance. One of our service experts can investigate, diagnose, and make the proper repairs.

Humming sound from your Charlotte heating system

If your heating system seems to be working properly, but you hear a loud humming noise when it is engaged, it could be a faulty transformer. If the unit is not working and you hear a humming noise, a fan motor or capacitor could be bad.

It is best to have a certified technician from Patterson Heating & Air Conditioning assess the situation and provide you with a quote for repair.

If you have a heat pump, the humming noise could be completely normal. When a heat pump goes into defrost mode, you should hear a low hum. Heat will come out of the top of the unit, instead of cold air and the fan may shut off completely. All of this is completely normal. When the heat pump exits the defrost cycle, a loud noise, like air pressure being released can occur and the fan will come back on again.

Squealing noise

For a heat pump system, if you hear a loud squealing noise, this could be a problem with your system’s reversing valve. This is the device that shifts the refrigerant flow. It changes depending if you are heating or cooling your home.

Pop or bang

This could be as simple as sheet metal expanding and contracting as it heats up your home. Usually this happens when the fan first starts or stops. These sounds are most common in homes with sheet metal ductwork. However, it could be a symptom of a dirty filter, a closed vent, or a flimsy filter, not properly secured.

Rumbling sounds

If you own a gas or oil-fired system and hear an unusual rumbling noise, especially when your system first fires up, turn off the system and schedule a certified technician to inspect the equipment as soon as possible. Do not use your heating system until it is thoroughly inspected. There could be a dangerous problem with your equipment.

Overall noise issues from Charlotte heating systems

Many of these noises are symptoms of problems a homeowner cannot fix on their own. You should reach out to Patterson Heating & Air Conditioning to diagnose and look repairing the problem properly.

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