Ever hear a strange noise coming from your furnace? Lately there
seems to be a rush of service calls for weird noises coming from the blower
compartment. Luckily for many the problem is caused by a stray candy wrapper or other small piece of debris that has found its way into the blower wheel. That’s right, a small tiny insignificant little gum wrapper can make your furnace shake just like an unbalanced washer in the spin cycle.
How Did the Debris Get in the Blower?
Where did that little piece of paper come from? Well maybe you or someone in your home enjoys fruit gum, but odds are that paper has been in your duct work since you moved into your house years ago. Why did it choose now to get caught in your blower wheel? That’s just one of life’s little mysteries.
The most important question to ask is what else could be hiding in your
duct work? Circulating bacteria, viruses, and spores can pose a threat to the health of your family if the problem gets out of hand, but we are more worried about the debris that may be stuck up in them as well. Those little scraps of paper bouncing around in there are the things to worry about. One or two small pieces of debris can cause you blower wheel to shake and rattle until it falls apart, and that can create need for an expensive part replacement if not caught soon enough.
Defending Your Furnace with a Duct Cleaning
Your best defense is look down in the filter slot every time you change
your filter. If you find some debris simply remove it before placing the new filter in the slot. Another way to eliminate this problem is to get your ducts professionally cleaned by Four Seasons Heating and Air Conditioning. This service will help you remove those things that may have collected in your duct work over the years and prevent them from messing up your furnace’s blower wheel. You might also take comfort knowing that most of the germs and bacteria that have been left behind in the ducts will be gone.
Prevent Problems or Replace Parts
The main thing to remember is that you need to do something about a noisy
furnace before it breaks. Changing your filter regularly and having your ducts cleaned every 5 to 7 years can eliminate these types of problems in your home. Preventive maintenance is always cheaper than repairing the unit after it breaks.