Banging, Screeching and Rattling: What 6 Typical Furnace Noises Indicate

October 13, 2020

When your furnace is working properly, it should give warmth without creating too much noise. While it’s normal to hear your furnace making noise as it starts up, other noises are indicating your furnace requires immediate professional help.

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

1. Furnace Making a Banging Noise

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

Banging Sounds Coming from Your Furnace

Your heating system becomes filthy as time passes, so that’s why it’s important to schedule yearly furnace maintenance with Jack's Heating, Cooling, Stoves & Fireplaces. One of the things our technicians perform during this appointment is clean your furnace’s burners. When this part gets grubby, you may hear your furnace making a loud rumbling noise after ignition takes more time. The ensuing gas buildup might break your furnace’s heat exchanger, where natural gas changes into warm air. Any breaks in it can emit carbon monoxide, which is ordinarily vented outside. This hazardous gas can be fatal in large concentrations.

If you’re hearing banging or knocking sounds coming from your furnace, Jack's Heating, Cooling, Stoves & Fireplaces advises turning it off and contacting us at 308-321-4703. Significant natural gas in your furnace or a cracked heat exchanger are serious problems that require immediate repairs.

Banging Sounds Coming from Your Ductwork

Your furnace relies on ductwork to provide warm air across your home. If the ductwork wasn’t installed correctly or is aging, it can be loud when your furnace is on. This could be the case if your furnace makes a banging noise when it shuts off. Get in touch with Jack's Heating, Cooling, Stoves & Fireplaces at 308-321-4703 and we’ll pinpoint the problem.

2. Furnace Making a Buzzing Noise

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

Your furnace depends on an internal transformer to run on the correct voltage. If wires or the box isn’t tight enough, you might notice a low humming noise in the furnace when off. Your furnace also works with a blower motor, which sends heated or chilly air around your rooms, and a capacitor, which starts the motor. If either of these parts are fading, they will buzz when the furnace switches on.

3. Furnace Making a Rattling Noise

If your furnace is making a rattling noise, it could be due to something small, like an unfastened screw, or something serious, like a broken piece. In either case, we urge you to shut your furnace off and calling our heating pros at 308-321-4703 for help.

4. Furnace Making a Squealing Noise

If your furnace makes a high-pitched noise, like squealing, when it’s running, it’s making an effort to alert you it could use some TLC. If you’ve forgotten furnace maintenance the last couple of years, belts could be worn out or a bearing might need to be lubed. We are aware that maintenance often slips your mind, but our professionals can get your furnace running quietly again fast.

5. Furnace Making a Whistling Noise

When you’re noticing your furnace making a whistling noise, it’s frequently the result of an air leak in your ductwork. You may also hear whistling while the furnace is on if a floor vent is loose. If you’ve checked your vents but are still noticing noise, Jack's Heating, Cooling, Stoves & Fireplaces can provide support. It’s important to get loose ductwork repaired without delay, as it can create comfort problems in your home and drive up 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 often means there’s an issue with your furnace’s blower. Turn off your furnace off instantly and call us at 308-321-4703 for help.

When you’re noticing a weird noise from your furnace, Jack's Heating, Cooling, Stoves & Fireplaces is available to help. Contact us at 308-321-4703 to schedule your furnace repair appointment now.