Banging, Screeching and Rattling: What 6 Common Furnace Noises Mean

October 13, 2020

When your furnace is operating like it should, it should give warm air without making too much disruption. While it’s expected to hear your furnace making noise as it turns on, other noises are signaling your furnace should get immediate professional support.

Here are some of the most common furnace noises and what they could be indicating. If your furnace is making an odd noise, our friendly heating specialists are here to fix the problem with the best furnace repair in Pella, IA.

1. Furnace Making a Banging Noise

You may have a serious situation on your hands if you’re hearing your furnace making a banging noise. If your furnace is making a knocking noise, it can mean there could be a couple of problems. These involve gas accumulating in your furnace or a ductwork problem.

Banging Sounds Coming from Your Furnace

Your heating system turns filthy over the years, so that’s why it’s important to set routine furnace maintenance with Van Haaften Plumbing & Heating. One of the things our professionals complete during this work is clean your furnace’s burners. When this component gets grimy, you could hear your furnace making a loud rumbling noise if ignition takes more time. The subsequent gas buildup can crack your furnace’s heat exchanger, where natural gas changes into heat. Any fractures in it can discharge carbon monoxide, which is regularly emitted away from your home. This toxic gas can be fatal in large concentrations.

If you’re aware of banging or knocking sounds coming from your furnace, Van Haaften Plumbing & Heating advises turning it off and calling us at 641-628-3621. Too much natural gas in your furnace or a fractured heat exchanger are hazardous problems that require fast service.

Banging Sounds Coming from Your Ductwork

Your furnace uses ductwork to move hot air around your house. If the ductwork wasn’t designed right or is aging, it can make a lot of noise when your furnace is heating. This could be the issue if your furnace makes a banging noise when it shuts off. Get in touch with Van Haaften Plumbing & Heating at 641-628-3621 and we’ll pinpoint the problem.

2. Furnace Making a Buzzing Noise

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

Your furnace relies on an internal transformer to run on the correct voltage. If wires or the box isn’t tight enough, you could hear a low humming noise in the furnace when off. Your furnace also works with a blower motor, which moves heated or cold air around your space, and a capacitor, which triggers the motor. If either of these components are failing, they will buzz when the furnace starts.

3. Furnace Making a Rattling Noise

If your furnace is making a rattling noise, it may be the result of something minor, like an unsecure screw, or something serious, like a broken component. In either case, we urge you to shut your furnace off and contacting our heating professionals at 641-628-3621 for help.

4. Furnace Making a Squealing Noise

If your furnace makes a high-pitched noise, like squealing, when it’s on, it’s trying to alert you it requires some TLC. If you’ve skipped furnace maintenance recently, belts could be dilapidated or a bearing could need to be lubed. We know that maintenance sometimes slips your mind, but our pros can get your furnace running quietly again quickly.

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 might also be aware of whistling while the furnace is running if a floor vent isn’t tight. If you’ve examined your vents but are still hearing noise, Van Haaften Plumbing & Heating can assist you. It’s critical to get loose ductwork fixed without delay, as it can create comfort problems in your house and inflate your heating costs.

6. Furnace Making a Grinding Noise

It’s not a good sign if you detect your furnace making a grinding noise. This metal-on-metal sound usually means there’s trouble with your furnace’s blower. Shut down your furnace off instantly and call us at 641-628-3621 for support.

When you’re noticing a weird noise from your furnace, Van Haaften Plumbing & Heating is ready to help. Contact us at 641-628-3621 to book your furnace repair appointment now.