Why Is My Furnace Clicking? | Furnace Making Strange Noise
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Why Is My Furnace Clicking? Explained

Hand pulling an air filter from a residential furnace

You depend on your furnace to work as intended to keep you warm during a brisk winter in Northwest Chicagoland. When it’s on the fritz, you risk going without the heat to get through the season in comfort and safety. One telltale sign of a furnace issue is an abnormal clicking sound.

It’s not always apparent why your furnace may be clicking, but it’s good to familiarize yourself with common causes of the problem. Keep reading to learn more about what causes your furnace to make a clicking sound and how to troubleshoot the issue further.

Reasons Your Furnace Is Making Clicking Sounds

When you know what signs of distress to look out for, you can better understand how it needs to be resolved. Below are some reasons your furnace could be making a clicking sound:

Ignition Issues

If your unit’s gas valve is broken, jammed, or clogged, it won’t be able to provide adequate fuel to the pilot light and burner, which is required for system operation. An infrequent clicking sound can indicate that your pilot light is trying to ignite and failing. Additionally, your pilot light can become clogged or loose, and the clicking may be due to it trying and failing to ignite.

Loose Components

When one or more of your unit’s interior parts become loose, it can create an unusual clicking sound. Dirt and debris can build up due to heavy use, resulting in the fan or inducer becoming loose, and loose ductwork can lead to clicking heard throughout the house. Furthermore, faulty electrical wiring or an insecure motor can cause clicking sounds inside your furnace.

Failing Thermostat

Your thermostat is responsible for managing the temperature your furnace produces. If your thermostat fails to send the correct signal to your unit, your system cannot correctly ignite, thus resulting in a clicking sound.

Troubleshooting These Noises

To determine if your unit is malfunctioning, implement a few troubleshooting tips into its maintenance.

An initial step is inspecting the unit’s physical condition. Check to see if something is stuck in the fan or if the V-belt is misaligned and inspect and clean off a buildup of dirt and debris from the other components. If you notice the clicking noise is due to loose components, try tightening them safely and carefully to see if this resolves the issue.

If these simple steps don’t work, it’s time to call a professional. At some point, specific components will become too worn out or broken and will require a professional heating repair or replacement. A professional is trained to do the job with precision and care, so never risk safety hazards or damages to the unit by turning a heating repair or replacement into a DIY project.

Get Furnace Repairs From Home Comfort Today

Since 1998, Home Comfort has delivered leading furnace repair services to the Northwest suburbs of Chicago, ensuring safety and well-being for our clients is always a priority. Our technicians are background-checked and trained thoroughly, and our team will always offer upfront pricing and financing options for added peace of mind.

We’re proud to be an American Standard Customer Care Dealer and exclusive HVAC Partner of the Northwestern University Wildcats, along with a sponsor for local baseball and football leagues and a dance academy within our community. When you need a solution, we’ve got you covered!

Northwest Chicagoland’s Heating & Air Conditioning Experts are here to help. Don’t wait to schedule expert furnace repair with our team today!

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Northwest Chicagoland’s Heating & Air Conditioning Experts
  • American Standard Customer Care Dealers
  • Exclusive HVAC Partner of the Northwestern University Wildcats
  • Sponsor local baseball & football leagues & a dance academy
  • Part of the Niles Design District
  • Upfront pricing & financing option
  • Background-checked technicians
  • Military, veteran & senior discounts