Tominator Posted January 21, 2009 Report Share Posted January 21, 2009 1 o'clock last night I woke up to what I swore was my son falling out of bed. Loud thump. 10 minutes later I heard it again, this time is sounded like it was a huge snowball thrown at my window, or something in the attic. I couldn't pinpoint the sound. 5 minutes later the furnace blower kicked on and I swore I could hear birds stuck in my duct work (don't laugh, it's happened before). Got out of bed and investigated. Sounds like a bearing on my blower fan is about to bite it, but never could figure out the loud thumping sound preceding the chirping. Curiously, the thumping stopped and so did the chirping after about 3 a.m. Any ideas? I'm figuring they are related, but don't really know, and I'm thinking this sub zero temps have something to do with it too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Kat Posted January 21, 2009 Report Share Posted January 21, 2009 only time I ever heard thumping in cold weather was when my pipes froze up. Hope that ain't the case bud! I agree with your bearing going out. That'd be the only thing that would chirp...hope maybe it was just the cold and not a big problem. HVAC guys like their $$$ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
backwoods07 Posted January 21, 2009 Report Share Posted January 21, 2009 My pipes froze the other night and it sounded like someone was breaking in the house...That may explain your problem, but I really can't quite imagine what birds in duct work would sound like? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adjam5 Posted January 21, 2009 Report Share Posted January 21, 2009 Chris...gas or Oil fired burner? I have had my oil burners on the house upstate load up and then ignite and make a big thump which is usually the damper on the duct getting blown open from the burner. Did the heat turn on OK through out the night? Noise only when the blower kicks on? What you can do, to tell if it is the bearing on the motor is... Advanced way...See if you can borrow/rent a amp probe( a clamp type meter that measures electron flow in the wire), which is what a HVAC guy would use to check the amperage draw of the motor. If the bearings are shot, the motor will draw more than is needed to spin. I did and changed my blower motor when it was drawing close to 18 amps. Motor said it should consume 15 amps at FLA (full load amperage) start up, then drop to 13-15amps running amps. If you are not familiar with electric, don't mess with it, because you need to do this live. Simple way... The bearings also can make the noise of a bird chirping if the fan blades are off center from the bearings being worn and lightly touching something. The blades will ping at start up and eventually stabilize. Motors are somewhat cheap,$1-200 and easy to remove and re install. 3 bolts/screws on motor bracket and motor usually has a male plug on it for easy disconnection. Date all parts with a marker to keep track of when replacement was made. You have bats in the belfry? I've heard that:D No screen cap on your exhaust vent? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevebeilgard Posted January 21, 2009 Report Share Posted January 21, 2009 i'm guessing your furnace (gas) is letting too much gas into the chamber before ignition, causing a flameup thump. then, the squirrel cage may indeed be bad, causing the squeaking. finally, the advice above from adam5, about bats in the belfry...... don't shortchange that. lol on a serious note, you really need to get it checked out professionally now, or real quick. it's could be dangerous, no matter what it is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tominator Posted January 21, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 21, 2009 Chris...gas or Oil fired burner? I have had my oil burners on the house upstate load up and then ignite and make a big thump which is usually the damper on the duct getting blown open from the burner. Did the heat turn on OK through out the night? Noise only when the blower kicks on? Oil, and your description sounds perfect. Yep, noise precedes the chirping by a good 5 or 10 minutes. You can hear the thump, 5 minutes, burner, 2 minutes fan kicks on. Sometimes it chirps, sometimes it doesn't. Chirping seems to follow the thump, chirps for 5 10 minutes, then stops. If you are not familiar with electric, don't mess with it, because you need to do this live. Simple way... I'm an electrical mow-ron. My wife just texted me and said the furnace dude is on his way. No screen cap on your exhaust vent? After 4 starlings got in once while we were on vacation, there's a screen there now. That chirping, at 1 a.m., in the haze of coming to conciousness, sounded exactly like a cardinal chipping and a sparrow chirping. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
c_lou Posted January 21, 2009 Report Share Posted January 21, 2009 Sounds like bigfoot has set up shop in your furnace. Best head down to the local co-op and get some BigFoot-B-Gone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ruttinbuc Posted January 21, 2009 Report Share Posted January 21, 2009 Sounds like bigfoot has set up shop in your furnace. Best head down to the local co-op and get some BigFoot-B-Gone. I'd be setting out a tray of veggies for him with a video camera on a trip wire. Imagine the wealth video of a real live bigfoot would bring!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tominator Posted January 21, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 21, 2009 Well, this story is getting better(worse). I get home, I notice the house is cold and the blower is running. Good news is, no chirping, bad news, the blessed fan won't turn off! I switched it off at the thermostat, nothing. Short of throwing the breaker, I don't know how to turn the thing off. It's not letting the oil burner build up enough heat to heat the house now. Thermostat is sitting at 60 degrees right now, and has been for over 2 hours. I called the furnace co., she says "I'll tell him when he gets in and have him call you..." That was an hour ago. I figured they closed at 5, so I called about a half hour ago and, just as I thought, got the machine. These guys are normally really good. I've used them plenty of times before. Really letting me down this time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adjam5 Posted January 21, 2009 Report Share Posted January 21, 2009 Chris...Is there a silver box on the inside of the heat unit, close to the fan, with a white plastic rod on it? That button has 2 positions...manual and auto. Change it from the position it is in. Either push it in or pull it out. That should fix your problem;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OJR Posted January 22, 2009 Report Share Posted January 22, 2009 A few years ago, I had that same problem and it was a thermocouple that went back in the furance. It didn't take them 5 minutes to replace it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tominator Posted January 22, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 22, 2009 Chris...Is there a silver box on the inside of the heat unit, close to the fan, with a white plastic rod on it? That button has 2 positions...manual and auto. Change it from the position it is in. Either push it in or pull it out. That should fix your problem;) No, I don't see anything like that Anthony. The motor sits atop the blower fan. There's actually 2 blower fans that run off the one motor. The motor wire runs to the outside of the furnace, which is assuming the box you're talking about. I don't see a manual or auto switch. There is a manual and auto on the thermostat, but switching that doesn't do anything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adjam5 Posted January 22, 2009 Report Share Posted January 22, 2009 Strange...I would've thought the service tech moved that switch to manual to get the blower to come on and the cycle to begin and forgot to move it back. I move that switch myself on my furnace when I have the wood stove going in our house upstate, just so the fan does not shut off and the heat from the stove circulates around the house through the ducts and I don't use any oil. In the summer I use it to move the air around the house to cool it, by moving the same switch. It is a forced hot air system. That is why I thought that what it was. That "silver box" is also where the limits are set for the amount of time the fan stays on. I'm trying Chris... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tominator Posted January 22, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 22, 2009 Strange...I would've thought the service tech moved that switch to manual to get the blower to come on and the cycle to begin and forgot to move it back. I move that switch myself on my furnace when I have the wood stove going in our house upstate, just so the fan does not shut off and the heat from the stove circulates around the house through the ducts and I don't use any oil. In the summer I use it to move the air around the house to cool it, by moving the same switch. It is a forced hot air system. That is why I thought that what it was. That "silver box" is also where the limits are set for the amount of time the fan stays on. I'm trying Chris... I know bud, and I really appreciate it. What you're saying makes a lot of sense, but I just can't find that switch. With the fire I got the house up to 62, but the fire will die in a few hours. Don't know if I should just let it go, or stay up all night feeding it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adjam5 Posted January 22, 2009 Report Share Posted January 22, 2009 Looks like it is going to be a 3 dog night. What happened to the Tech calling or coming back? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tominator Posted January 22, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 22, 2009 Well, I found the white switch. It was high, up by the flu. Unfortunately it was already in the auto position. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adjam5 Posted January 22, 2009 Report Share Posted January 22, 2009 Chris...how'd ya make out last night? What happened to the Tech coming back or calling? Hope you got it all worked out. You did get the 3 dog night comment...right? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ohiobucks Posted January 22, 2009 Report Share Posted January 22, 2009 Hope you got it fixed buddy. I have a kerosene heater if you need to borrow it in the meantime. Just let me know, I can drop it off tonight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tominator Posted January 22, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 22, 2009 Chris...how'd ya make out last night? Cold What happened to the Tech coming back or calling? Never called back last night, as promised. He did call this morning and figured out the problem. Apparently the set screw on the pulley had backed out and the belt was slipping so the fan was not blowing hard enough, thus cutting the burner off so it wouldn't get too hot. Makes sense now, and wish I would have noticed that yesterday. Oh well, problem solved hopefully, and no new parts, so I don't think the bill will even be too bad. You did get the 3 dog night comment...right? Ummmm, I think so. Hope you got it fixed buddy. I have a kerosene heater if you need to borrow it in the meantime. Just let me know, I can drop it off tonight. Thanks Tom. Think we got it figured out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adjam5 Posted January 22, 2009 Report Share Posted January 22, 2009 The 3 dog night comment was in reference to... If you are as old as I am, you'd remember the band, 3 dog night. Which got its name being from Alaska, and some nights were soo cold that it took 3 dogs to sleep with you to keep you warm. It was soo cold, it was a 3 dog night:D. Glad thats all it was buddy. Sorry I couldn't help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tominator Posted January 22, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 22, 2009 The 3 dog night comment was in reference to... If you are as old as I am, you'd remember the band, 3 dog night. Which got its name being from Alaska, and some nights were soo cold that it took 3 dogs to sleep with you to keep you warm. It was soo cold, it was a 3 dog night:D. Glad thats all it was buddy. Sorry I couldn't help. LOL--yep. I remember 3 dog night, but I didn't know that's how they got their name. Interesting. Hey man, I'm glad you tried to help. Appreciate you being there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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