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[AirForcePOL]

Last night I noticed that my solenoid was making a loud humming noise while the fan was in operation.  I noticed that when I tapped it with my hand it quit making the noise.  When the blower kicked back on later in the night I noticed that the solenoid was making the same noise.  It doesn't make any noise when the furnace is idle, just when it calls for heat and the solenoid in energized.  Does it sound like the solenoid is going bad or is this normal?  It has only been in operation for about 2 weeks now.  Thanks!

[willieG]

some times they are a little loose and the hum i think is really some vibrating. it doesn't hurt to have one of them on hand just in case. they are not too expensive. my first one hummed like that for 2 years bu ti always keep a solenoid and fan on the shelf

[AirForcePOL]

Okay thanks Willie! I was planning on buying an extra one just in case.

[lugnut]

Well, if you can sing AirForcePOL...you can entertain the neighbors....yeah, I know everyone likes a little, but no one needs a smart one.  LOL!

Do you have a plastic tube over the chain that opens to solenoid?  Prolly not a setup like what is on the Shaver units.

Solenoids are about $23.00 and well worth the price.  In fact I have to go to Grainger next week to pick up a spare although I do believe they are less expensive if you go to www.altheating.com

Lugnut

[fireboss]

same thing happend to me  i put a drop of oil on it  that was two years ago still working and no noise [humming] !

[Scott7m]

Squirt it with some spray oil, not wd though, it evaporates rather fast

[woodfuel]

Yes, same thing happened to me so i lubricated the solenoid. What "spray oil" should i use instead of wd40?

[Scott7m]

Something like pb blaster or something... 

Wd40 evaporates and most folks don't beleive that..  But you can get an engine block out of the dip tank from being cleaned, and spray it down with wd40 to stop rust before you paint it, but you gotta paint it within a day or two... But the point is paint won't stick over oil and will bubble like crazy, if the wd has been on there a few days the paint never bubbles or "fisheyes"

[fireboss]

I just used motor oil  10w30  or 10w 40 just a drop out of a old fashen oil squirt can

[AirForcePOL]

Thanks guys! I don't know what I did but it stopped making the noise.  If it starts again I will spray some lube on it. 

Lugnut - I don't really have any close neighbors to entertain but I'm sure glad it stopped making that noise.  There was something about it that drove my dog crazy and made him hump my leg every time the blower kicked on! Not really,  lol

[willieG]

Thanks guys! I don't know what I did but it stopped making the noise.  If it starts again I will spray some lube on it. 

Lugnut - I don't really have any close neighbors to entertain but I'm sure glad it stopped making that noise.  There was something about it that drove my dog crazy and made him hump my leg every time the blower kicked on! Not really,  lol

perhaps a humming solenoid in the house would help!

[AirForcePOL]

Good idea Willie!  I'll just have to make sure the dog is outside when I turn it on! Trust me, I need all of the help I can get! 

[BIGDIESEL20S]

Great idea Willie

Air force, the soleniod on my stove hummed when it dang well felt like it. I dont know if what I did helped it or not but as far as I know it has not done it since. I got home one night and it was sounding off, I was a touch on the kranky side, I jerked the back cover off the stove and pushed the damper door down and the noise went away. So far. Naxt time Im gonna try a little oil.

[AirForcePOL]

Yeah I gave a good yank on the chain this last time and it hasn't made the noise since lol.  Who knows how much longer it will last though