Banging, Screeching and Rattling: What 6 Ordinary Furnace Noises Signify

October 13, 2020

When your furnace is working like it should, it should deliver heat without making too much disruption. While it’s common to notice your furnace making noise as it turns on, other sounds are showing your furnace requires immediate professional support.

Here are some of the most common furnace noises and what they can be indicating. If your furnace is making a strange noise, our friendly heating pros are here to help with the best furnace repair in Bloomfield, IN.

1. Furnace Making a Banging Noise

You could have a critical problem on your hands if you’re hearing your furnace making a banging noise. If your furnace is making a knocking noise, it might signal there could be a few problems. These range from gas building up in your furnace or a ductwork problem.

Banging Sounds Coming from Your Furnace

Your heating system turns grimy over time, so that’s why it’s essential to set seasonal furnace maintenance with Stanford Heating & Cooling. One of the tasks our techs do during this service is clean your furnace’s burners. When this piece gets grimy, you may hear your furnace making a loud rumbling noise when ignition takes more time. The resulting gas buildup might break your furnace’s heat exchanger, where natural gas changes into heat. Any breaks in it can leak carbon monoxide, which is regularly released outside. This hazardous gas can be deadly in large concentrations.

If you’re aware of banging or knocking sounds coming from your furnace, Stanford Heating & Cooling advises turning it off and reaching us at 812-825-8695. Too much natural gas in your furnace or a fractured heat exchanger are critical issues that should get immediate attention.

Banging Sounds Coming from Your Ductwork

Your furnace relies on ductwork to deliver warm air across your residence. If the ductwork wasn’t put in properly or is getting old, it can be loud when your furnace runs. This could be the case if your furnace makes a banging noise when it shuts off. Contact Stanford Heating & Cooling at 812-825-8695 and we’ll figure out the problem.

2. Furnace Making a Buzzing Noise

If you notice your furnace making a buzzing noise, don’t hesitate to call us. A buzzing sound usually indicates an electrical situation, like with its transformer, blower motor or capacitor.

Your furnace relies on an internal transformer to run on the right voltage. If wires or the box isn’t tight enough, you may detect a low humming noise in the furnace when off. Your furnace also works with a blower motor, which distributes warm or cold air around your rooms, and a capacitor, which starts the motor. If either of these parts are going out, they will buzz when the furnace switches on.

3. Furnace Making a Rattling Noise

If your furnace is making a rattling noise, it might be due to something little, like an unfastened screw, or something major, like a broken part. In either case, we advise shutting your furnace off and getting in touch with our heating professionals at 812-825-8695 for help.

4. Furnace Making a Squealing Noise

If your furnace makes a high-pitched noise, like squealing, when it’s going, it’s trying to tell you it requires some TLC. If you’ve neglected furnace maintenance the last couple of years, belts could be worn down or a bearing could need to be lubed. We are aware that maintenance sometimes slips your mind, but our pros can get your furnace heating quietly again rapidly.

5. Furnace Making a Whistling Noise

When you’re hearing your furnace making a whistling noise, it’s likely the result of an air leak in your ductwork. You could also hear whistling while the furnace is working if a floor vent isn’t secure. If you’ve checked your vents but are still hearing whistling, Stanford Heating & Cooling can assist you. It’s important to get loose ductwork taken care of quickly, since it can result in comfort problems in your house and drive up your energy bills.

6. Furnace Making a Grinding Noise

It’s not a good sign if you notice your furnace making a grinding noise. This metal-on-metal noise frequently means there’s a problem with your furnace’s blower. Turn off your furnace off now and contact our pros at 812-825-8695 for help.

When you’re hearing an uncommon noise from your furnace, Stanford Heating & Cooling is available to support you. Contact us at 812-825-8695 to book your furnace repair appointment right away.