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

October 13, 2020

When your furnace is operating correctly, it should provide warmth without creating too much noise. While it’s expected to catch your furnace making noise as it begins running, other disruptions are indicating your furnace needs immediate professional assistance.

Here are some of the most frequent furnace noises and what they can be signaling. If your furnace is making a strange noise, our friendly heating specialists are here to assist with the best furnace repair in Pacheco, CA.

1. Furnace Making a Banging Noise

You might have a critical problem on your hands if you’re detecting your furnace making a banging noise. If your furnace is making a knocking noise, it may signal there could be a few problems. These involve gas accumulating in your furnace or a ductwork situation.

Banging Sounds Coming from Your Furnace

Your heating system gets filthy over time, so that’s why it’s critical to schedule annual furnace maintenance with Clean Air HVAC. One of the jobs our professionals do during this appointment is clean your furnace’s burners. When this part gets dirty, you could hear your furnace making a loud rumbling noise if ignition takes longer than normal. The ensuing gas buildup may fracture your furnace’s heat exchanger, where natural gas changes into warm air. Any fractures in it can discharge carbon monoxide, which is regularly emitted outside. This dangerous gas can be lethal in large concentrations.

If you’re aware of banging or knocking sounds coming from your furnace, Clean Air HVAC recommends turning it off and calling us at 925-233-6238. Excessive natural gas in your furnace or a ruptured heat exchanger are dangerous problems that necessitate immediate repairs.

Banging Sounds Coming from Your Ductwork

Your furnace uses ductwork to move heated air throughout your residence. If the ductwork wasn’t designed right or is getting dated, it can make a lot of noise when your furnace is on. This might be the problem if your furnace makes a banging noise when it shuts off. Contact Clean Air HVAC at 925-233-6238 and we’ll figure out the problem.

2. Furnace Making a Buzzing Noise

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

Your furnace depends on an internal transformer to work on the correct voltage. If wires or the box needs to be tightened, you might hear a low humming noise in the furnace when off. Your furnace also uses a blower motor, which distributes hot or cold air throughout your residence, and a capacitor, which turns on the motor. If either of these pieces 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 could be the result of something minor, like an unfastened screw, or something serious, like a broken component. In either case, we urge you to shut your furnace off and getting in touch with our heating specialists at 925-233-6238 for support.

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 could use some TLC. If you’ve skipped furnace maintenance the last couple of years, belts could be worn out or a bearing may need to be greased. We know that maintenance often slips your mind, but our techs can get your furnace running quietly again quickly.

5. Furnace Making a Whistling Noise

When you’re noticing your furnace making a whistling noise, it’s frequently because 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 looked at your vents but are still noticing whistling, Clean Air HVAC can assist you. It’s important to get loose ductwork repaired fast, since it can result in comfort troubles in your home and drive up your heating expenses.

6. Furnace Making a Grinding Noise

It’s not an encouraging sign if you notice your furnace making a grinding noise. This metal-on-metal noise often means there’s a problem with your furnace’s blower. Shut down your furnace off now and contact us at 925-233-6238 for assistance.

When you’re noticing an atypical noise from your furnace, Clean Air HVAC is ready to provide assistance. Contact us at 925-233-6238 to book your furnace repair appointment now.