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

October 13, 2020

When your furnace is operating correctly, it should give warmth without generating too much sound. While it’s common to notice 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 reported furnace noises and what they might be signaling. If your furnace is making a weird noise, our friendly heating specialists are here to help with the best furnace repair in Front Royal, VA.

1. Furnace Making a Banging Noise

You may have an urgent issue 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 few problems. These range from gas accumulating in your furnace or a ductwork problem.

Banging Sounds Coming from Your Furnace

Your heating system gets filthy over the years, so that’s why it’s essential to schedule yearly furnace maintenance with Dave's Diversified Services. One of the things our pros do during this work is clean your furnace’s burners. When this piece gets grimy, you may 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 transforms into warmth. Any fractures in it can leak carbon monoxide, which is ordinarily 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, Dave's Diversified Services recommends turning it off and reaching us at 540-636-3396. Excessive natural gas in your furnace or a broken heat exchanger are dangerous troubles that require immediate service.

Banging Sounds Coming from Your Ductwork

Your furnace works with ductwork to move heated air throughout your residence. If the ductwork wasn’t put in right or is aging, it can be noisy when your furnace is heating. This could be the case if your furnace makes a banging noise when it shuts off. Get in touch with Dave's Diversified Services at 540-636-3396 and we’ll determine the problem.

2. Furnace Making a Buzzing Noise

If you notice your furnace making a buzzing noise, don’t delay calling us. A buzzing sound typically is telling you there’s an electrical issue, 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 isn’t tight enough, you might detect a low humming noise in the furnace when off. Your furnace also works with a blower motor, which moves hot or cooled air across your house, and a capacitor, which triggers 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 small, like an unsecure screw, or something major, like a broken part. In either case, we advise shutting your furnace off and contacting our heating pros at 540-636-3396 for help.

4. Furnace Making a Squealing Noise

If your furnace makes a high-pitched noise, like squealing, when it’s going, it’s attempting to alert you it needs some TLC. If you’ve forgotten furnace maintenance recently, belts could be worn out or a bearing could need to be lubed. We know that maintenance frequently slips your mind, but our professionals can get your furnace operating quietly again quickly.

5. Furnace Making a Whistling Noise

When you’re detecting your furnace making a whistling noise, it’s frequently the result of an air leak in your ductwork. You could also notice whistling while the furnace is working if a floor vent is loose. If you’ve examined your vents but are still hearing sound, Dave's Diversified Services can assist you. It’s important to get loose ductwork fixed fast, because it can result in comfort troubles in your house and drive up your heating bills.

6. Furnace Making a Grinding Noise

It’s not a positive sign if you hear your furnace making a grinding noise. This metal-on-metal racket usually means there’s a problem with your furnace’s blower. Turn off your furnace off now and reach our pros at 540-636-3396 for assistance.

When you’re noticing a strange noise from your furnace, Dave's Diversified Services is ready to help. Contact us at 540-636-3396 to schedule your furnace repair appointment today.