The winter season is just around the corner, and you know what that means: Cold weather and (possibly) incredible amounts of snow.
Washington residents want to know they can rely on their central heating system to keep them warm throughout the cold winter months.
However, what do you do when you turn on your gas furnace for the first time this year and all you hear is an annoying clicking noise?
Is there any reason for concern or can you just leave the situation alone?
Several things can cause your furnace to make clicking noises.
Luckily, BelRed are here to help you figure out what’s causing the issue and determine the appropriate fix for your situation.
Here are the most common reasons for furnace noises.
Furnace Making a Clicking Noise?
When a furnace starts making strange noises, it typically means one of two things:
- Something is wrong with its ignition system
- There’s an internal part damage
Homeowners would need professional help to diagnose both situations. Regardless, let’s take a look at how an ignition system malfunction and internal part damage could manifest in a gas furnace.
Ignition System Types
Gas furnace ignition systems vary depending on their age and manufacturer. Knowing what type of ignition system you have will make it easier for you to determine what’s causing the clicking noise coming from your furnace.
Here’s a short list of common ignition systems found in most home heating systems:
Hot Surface Ignition System
Furnaces manufactured in the last 20 years often have a hot surface ignitor. This ignition system only burns fuel when the furnace runs, reducing fuel waste.
It’s also quieter than most direct spark igniter or pilot light systems, which often make a loud clicking sound when turned on.
Intermittent Pilot Ignition System
If you have a furnace that was made earlier in the 1900s, it most likely has an intermittent pilot ignition system. It employs an automated spark ignitor to light the main burners through an always-on gas pilot light.
Direct Spark Ignition System
Furnaces manufactured in the late 1980s to 1990s have a direct spark igniter. It’s one of the most durable ignition systems and will never burn out. Instead of the pilot burner, this igniter lights the main burners.
Standing Pilot Ignition System
A heating system with a standing pilot igniter was most likely manufactured in the 1920s to the 1980s. This type of ignition system was considered inefficient and wasteful as it used gas all the time unless the pilot light or the gas valve was off.
While these ignition systems are no longer in use, they can still be found in some old fireplaces.
Ignition System Malfunction
The first and most common reason for furnace clicking is an ignition system malfunction. Ignition systems have several components that require regular maintenance and care. Over time, these components can wear out or accumulate dirt, affecting their overall functionality.
Without proper care, your ignition system components can start deteriorating. In most cases, you can fix or replace each component. However, in more severe instances, you might have to replace your furnace entirely.
Here are some of the most common ignition system malfunctions. Make sure to contact an HVAC professional if you experience any of these situations:
Broken Gas Valve
Gas valves control the supply of gas inside the HVAC system. When the gas valve is damaged or faulty, it can cause annoying furnace clicking noises as the furnace attempts to light a flame.
Gas valves that have stopped working can be cleaned or repaired to restore their original functionality. Unfortunately, there may some cases when cleaning and repairs just won’t do, and you’ll have to replace your furnace’s gas valve entirely.
Faulty Flame Sensor
Furnace clicking can also be caused by a faulty flame sensor. The flame sensor tells the furnace when there’s a flame inside the unit, so the gas valve opens to release gas.
Over time, dirt and grime can gather on the flame sensor, causing it to lose its sensitivity to fire. As a result, the flame sensor can’t send its signals to the furnace and the ignitor will keep clicking until it spots a flame.
Cleaning the flame sensor is the easiest way to remedy the issue. In some cases, a complete replacement might be necessary.
Faulty Ignitor
When you start your furnace, you will hear a small clicking sound before warm air comes out of the unit. This sound is made by the spark igniter or ignitor, a mechanism inside your furnace that creates a spark that ignites the gas released by the valves connected to the gas supply.
When the ignitor flame runs too cold, it can struggle to ignite the gas inside the furnace. As a result, it will keep clicking until the flame sensor picks up a flame.
If your furnace’s spark igniter is faulty or broken, it must be addressed immediately, as it can cause a gas leak in your home.
Perform the following steps to ensure everyone’s safety at home:
- Shut gas valve on furnace
- Contact HVAC technician
Internal Part Damage
Another reason your furnace is making a clicking noise is internal part damage. Here are some of the most common parts that get damaged inside a furnace:
Faulty Blower Motor
The blower motor is responsible for sending hot air from your furnace into your home. After the system heats the cold air, the blower delivers the heat through the ductwork and out the air vents throughout your house.
A faulty blower motor means poor air circulation and a clicking sound coming from your unit.
Luckily, you don’t have to suffer through the cold air and annoying noises for very long.
You can contact a professional to help you fix the issue pronto.
Broken or Loose Fan Blade
Broken or loose fan blades can also cause furnace clicking sounds. Fan blades are part of every HVAC system. They help distribute warm air into a house or building.
Over time, dust, grime, and other debris can gather on the fan blades. This can cause the fan blades to either break or wear out. A worn-out or broken fan blade can make repeated clicking sounds when the furnace is running.
Cleaning the furnace blades is a great place to start fixing the issue. Otherwise, a complete replacement might be necessary.
Faulty Electric Components
The great thing about furnaces that use electricity is that they don’t require a gas supply to function. So, when it’s making a clicking noise, you don’t necessarily have to worry about a gas leak.
Nevertheless, it does mean that your furnace does need some repairs. When an electric furnace creates a clicking noise, it means that some components in its starter system are malfunctioning or damaged.
Electric furnaces are tricky to fix and require professional hands to ensure nothing goes wrong in the repair process. Contact a professional technician to perform the necessary repairs for you.
Cracked Ductwork
If you hear clicking sounds coming from your ductwork, it could mean a duct seam is loose or that a crack has formed on the ducts. When this happens, air can escape from the cracks, causing your furnace to stop functioning correctly.
Additionally, items can easily enter through the cracks and get stuck inside the ducts. This can lead to rhythmic rattling and clicking sounds developing later.
Don’t Skip Regular Furnace Maintenance and Repairs
Your heating system requires regular maintenance and repair to work efficiently throughout the winter season. Poor maintenance can cause your furnace’s components to deteriorate and wear much faster. As a result, your furnace can start creating this clicking sound when it’s running.
Clicking sounds coming from your furnace are typically a sign of a malfunction in any or several of the furnace’s components. For instance, it could mean a bad connection within your furnace ductwork—it could also mean a faulty pilot light.
Furnace clicks could also mean worn motor bearings or a cracked fan shaft. A professional HVAC technician can help you diagnose and treat your furnace problems quickly and efficiently. They can inspect your furnace components — from the pilot light to the furnace motor — to find the source of the issue. Once they have the answer, they can perform the appropriate fix so you can continue using your furnace immediately.
Get Reliable Heating, Cooling, and Electrical Services from BelRed
BelRed is an industry-leading heating, cooling, and energy solutions provider — offering high-quality services to Washington residents since 1986. Our 35 years in service have given us the time and experience to ensure our offers are of the utmost help to our clients.
Here at BelRed, we employ only the best HVAC technicians. Our experts can help you solve whatever issue your HVAC system is facing, be it inefficient heating or leaky pipes.
Each HVAC professional in our company is trained in the latest methodologies and techniques to maintain current industry standards. Contact us today for professional furnace repairs, AC maintenance, or new appliances installation.
Contact (855) 345-6161 Today
We look forward to serving you!
