The Racket is Back: Troubleshooting Tips for a Noisy Furnace
Is your furnace auditioning for a heavy metal band? A heating system should operate with a low hum, not a loud clang, screech, or rattle. When your furnace starts making unusual noises, it's not just annoying—it's often a sign that something is loose, worn out, or dangerously close to failing. Ignoring strange sounds can quickly turn a minor repair into a major breakdown.
At Nugent Mechanical Contractors in Lubbock, we help homeowners diagnose and fix noisy furnaces every winter. Here’s a guide to the most common furnace sounds, what they usually mean, and when you absolutely need to call a professional.
Noise Guide: What That Sound Is Telling You
| Noise Type | Likely Cause | What You Can Do |
| Screeching or High-Pitched Squealing | A failing or dry motor bearing or a worn blower belt. The blower motor moves air through your home, and without proper lubrication, the bearings seize up, causing a loud squeal. | Turn the unit off immediately. Running the system can cause the motor to burn out. This requires a professional repair (lubrication or part replacement). |
| Banging or Popping (Loud, Sudden) | Delayed ignition (Gas Furnaces): If gas builds up before the burner ignites, it can result in a small "explosion" when it finally lights. This is serious and can damage the heat exchanger. Ductwork expansion: Sudden, loud metallic pops usually happen when thin ductwork expands or contracts with temperature changes. | If the sound is related to ignition, call us immediately. If it's a duct issue, it's typically annoying but not dangerous. |
| Rattling or Clicking | A loose panel, door, or screw. Can also be loose debris inside the blower compartment. Clicking is often heard before the furnace starts, signaling the ignition sequence, but constant clicking suggests an issue with the ignitor. | Tighten all visible screws and panels. Check for and remove any debris around the exterior of the blower fan. |
| Grinding or Scraping | A broken or severely loose part rubbing against the blower motor or fan housing. This is a serious issue that indicates metal-on-metal contact. | Shut down the furnace immediately. Running it can lead to extensive damage to the blower assembly. |
| Whistling or Howling | Airflow restriction caused by a severely clogged air filter or blocked return air vents. | Replace your air filter immediately. Clear any furniture or objects blocking air returns or vents in your home. |
When to Call Nugent Mechanical
While a loose panel or a dirty filter can be a simple DIY fix, most loud furnace noises signal a mechanical failure that requires professional attention. Never attempt to repair internal components like the heat exchanger, burners, or electrical wiring yourself.
You should call us right away if:
- The noise is a loud screech or grinding sound. This indicates serious motor or bearing failure.
- You hear a loud bang or boom during ignition, which suggests a dangerous delayed ignition or potential heat exchanger damage.
- The noise is persistent, and you can't identify or safely resolve the source.
Ignoring persistent, loud noises is risking a complete, expensive system failure that will likely happen when you need your heat the most. Our certified technicians have the tools to accurately diagnose the source of the noise and provide a lasting, safe repair.
Don't let your furnace keep you up at night. Contact Nugent Mechanical today to schedule an inspection and restore quiet comfort to your home.
Your Annual Must-Do: Why Your Heating System Needs a Professional Tune-Up Every Year
In Lubbock, we rely on our heating systems to battle those sudden, sharp winter chills. But just like your car, your furnace is a complex machine that experiences wear and tear. If you wait for a breakdown before calling for service, you're not only risking a freezing night but also inviting costly repairs.
At Nugent Mechanical, we can't stress this enough: your heating system needs a professional tune-up every single year. This isn't just a recommendation—it's the single most effective way to ensure safety, reliability, and efficiency all season long.
1. Guaranteeing Your Family's Safety
This is the most critical reason for an annual inspection. Furnaces—especially gas models—create heat through combustion. When components wear out, they can create dangerous situations:
- Carbon Monoxide (CO) Leaks: A professional tune-up includes inspecting the heat exchanger for small cracks. A cracked heat exchanger can leak odorless, colorless, and poisonous carbon monoxide into your home. Technicians use specialized tools to check for this silent killer.
- Fire Hazards: Loose wiring, dirty burners, and debris near the ignition system can all pose a fire risk. We check and secure all electrical connections to prevent hazards.
- Gas Leaks: We inspect all gas lines and connections to ensure there are no leaks that could pose an explosion risk.
2. Protecting Your Warranty (A Financial Lifeline)
Almost every major furnace manufacturer's warranty requires proof of annual professional maintenance to remain valid. If your system breaks down and you haven't had a recent tune-up, the manufacturer can void your warranty, leaving you responsible for the entire cost of replacing expensive parts like the heat exchanger or compressor.
A yearly maintenance receipt from Nugent Mechanical is your documented proof that you’ve done your part to protect your investment.
3. Maximizing Energy Efficiency and Saving Money
A dirty, unmaintained furnace has to work harder and run longer to heat your home, which directly translates to higher utility bills.
- Efficiency Restoration: A professional cleaning removes grime and dirt from the burners, blower, and critical components. This simple step restores lost efficiency, often saving homeowners enough money on their utility bills to cover the cost of the tune-up itself.
- Peak Performance: When all components are clean and calibrated, your system runs at peak performance, ensuring warm, consistent air without wasting fuel.
4. Avoiding Costly Mid-Winter Breakdowns
A typical tune-up allows a trained technician to spot minor issues—like a worn blower belt, a failing ignitor, or a low-amperage draw on a motor—before they cause a complete system failure.
- Proactive Repairs: By fixing a $50 component now, you avoid an emergency $500 repair call on Christmas Eve.
- Convenient Scheduling: Scheduling maintenance in the fall allows you to pick a time that works for you, rather than waiting in line for an emergency technician during a regional cold snap.
Schedule Your Tune-Up with Nugent Mechanical
Don't gamble with your family's comfort or safety. An annual pre-season maintenance check is the smartest investment you can make in your home's well-being. Contact Nugent Mechanical today to schedule your professional furnace tune-up and start your winter season with confidence and peace of mind.
Common Furnace Problems and How to Fix Them
When the temperatures drop Lubbock, a reliable furnace isn't just nice to have—it's essential. Most furnace troubles announce themselves with clear symptoms, and knowing how to troubleshoot them can save you time, money, and discomfort.
While some issues require calling a professional, many common problems have simple, DIY solutions. At Nugent Mechanical, we want you to be prepared! Here are the most frequent furnace issues and what you can do to address them.
Problem 1: The Furnace Isn't Producing Heat (or Won't Turn On)
This is the most common and immediate crisis, especially during a cold snap.
| Likely Cause | Your DIY Fix | When to Call Nugent Mechanical |
| Thermostat Issues | Make sure the thermostat is set to "Heat" and the temperature is set at least five degrees higher than the current room temperature. Check or replace the batteries if it's a digital unit. | If the screen is blank or the thermostat won't trigger the furnace after checking the batteries. |
| Tripped Circuit Breaker | Go to your main electrical panel. If the breaker is flipped, reset it by turning it completely OFF, then ON. | If the breaker immediately trips again, this indicates a dangerous electrical short and requires professional attention. |
| Furnace Power Switch | Check the emergency switch (often a red switch near the furnace or in the basement/attic). Ensure it is set to the "ON" position. | If the switch is on but there's still no power to the unit. |
| Clogged Air Filter | A severely dirty filter restricts airflow, causing the system to overheat and shut down as a safety precaution. Replace the filter immediately. | If replacing the filter doesn't restart the unit. |
Problem 2: The Furnace is Blowing Cold Air
Your blower is running, but the air coming out of the vents isn't warm.
- Pilot Light/Ignitor Failure (Gas Furnaces): If the pilot light is out (or the electronic ignitor fails), the furnace can't burn gas to create heat. You can try to safely relight the pilot light following the instructions on your furnace, but if it won't stay lit, the thermocouple may be faulty.
- Dirty Flame Sensor: This safety device ensures the gas valve is closed if the burner flame goes out. If it's covered in soot, it mistakenly senses no flame and shuts off the gas, resulting in cold air. A technician can safely clean or replace this sensor.
- Overheated Unit: The heat exchanger may be so dirty (or the filter so clogged) that the furnace is immediately hitting its safety limit and shutting off the burner.
When to Call: If the pilot light won't stay lit, or if the unit is repeatedly cycling on and off.
Problem 3: Strange Noises Coming from the Furnace
Your furnace should run quietly. Any new or loud sounds indicate a component is failing or broken.
| Noise | What It Likely Means |
| Squealing or Chirping | Usually indicates a problem with the blower motor belt (needs lubrication or replacement) or a failing motor bearing. |
| Banging or Popping | Often caused by expanding/contracting ductwork as the temperature changes, or sometimes by delayed ignition in the burners. |
| Rattling | Could be a loose panel or screw that needs tightening, or debris inside the blower fan. |
When to Call: If the noise is loud, persistent, or accompanied by a loss of heat. Worn belts and bearings put extreme stress on the motor and need immediate repair.
Problem 4: High Energy Bills
The furnace seems to be running fine, but your utility bill is unusually high.
- Lack of Maintenance: This is the biggest culprit. An unmaintained furnace can lose up to 5% of its efficiency each year it goes without a professional tune-up.
- Old Filter: A dirty filter forces the motor to run longer, wasting energy.
- Poor Insulation/Drafts: Your home itself may be losing heat through drafts or poor attic insulation, forcing the furnace to run constantly.
Your DIY Fix: Enroll in a preventive maintenance plan and consistently replace your air filter every 30–90 days. Check windows and doors for drafts.
When to Trust the Professionals
While DIY fixes are great for simple issues like filters and switches, leave anything involving gas lines, electrical components, or internal repairs to the certified technicians at Nugent Mechanical. We use specialized diagnostic tools to locate the problem quickly and safely, ensuring a lasting repair.
Don't ignore the warning signs! Contact us today for reliable service that keeps your furnace running efficiently and safely all winter long.