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

October 13, 2020

When your furnace is operating correctly, it should give heat without generating too much sound. While it’s normal to catch your furnace making noise as it starts up, other sounds are indicating your furnace should get immediate professional assistance.

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

1. Furnace Making a Banging Noise

You could have an urgent issue on your hands if you’re noticing your furnace making a banging noise. If your furnace is making a knocking noise, it might signal there could be a couple of problems. These involve gas increasing in your furnace or a ductwork situation.

Banging Sounds Coming from Your Furnace

Your heating system turns dirty over the years, so that’s why it’s essential to schedule routine furnace maintenance with Farris Heating & Air. One of the jobs our pros perform during this work is clean your furnace’s burners. When this part gets grimy, you may hear your furnace making a loud rumbling noise when ignition takes longer than normal. The following gas buildup may crack your furnace’s heat exchanger, where natural gas changes into heat. Any fractures in it can discharge carbon monoxide, which is regularly vented away from your home. This dangerous gas can be fatal in large concentrations.

If you’re hearing banging or knocking sounds coming from your furnace, Farris Heating & Air urges you to turn it off and calling us at 918-333-0376. Too much natural gas in your furnace or a ruptured heat exchanger are critical issues that should get immediate repairs.

Banging Sounds Coming from Your Ductwork

Your furnace uses ductwork to provide hot air around your house. If the ductwork wasn’t designed correctly or is getting old, it can make a lot of noise when your furnace is on. This may be the case if your furnace makes a banging noise when it shuts off. Get in touch with Farris Heating & Air at 918-333-0376 and we’ll pinpoint the problem.

2. Furnace Making a Buzzing Noise

If you hear your furnace making a buzzing noise, don’t delay calling us. A buzzing sound typically is telling you there’s an electrical situation, like with its transformer, blower motor or capacitor.

Your furnace relies on an internal transformer to work on the right voltage. If wires or the box isn’t tight enough, you might hear a low humming noise in the furnace when off. Your furnace also uses a blower motor, which sends heated or chilly air across your rooms, and a capacitor, which starts the motor. If either of these components 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 can be related to something little, like an unsecure screw, or something critical, like a broken component. In either case, we advise shutting your furnace off and calling our heating pros at 918-333-0376 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 skipped furnace maintenance the last couple of years, belts could be worn down or a bearing may need to be lubed. We are aware that maintenance sometimes slips your mind, but our pros can get your furnace heating quietly again fast.

5. Furnace Making a Whistling Noise

When you’re detecting your furnace making a whistling noise, it’s typically due to an air leak in your ductwork. You could also notice whistling while the furnace is running if a floor vent isn’t tight. If you’ve checked your vents but are still hearing whistling, Farris Heating & Air can assist you. It’s important to get loose ductwork fixed fast, since it can create comfort issues in your home and drive up your heating costs.

6. Furnace Making a Grinding Noise

It’s not a good sign if you hear your furnace making a grinding noise. This metal-on-metal racket often means there’s trouble with your furnace’s blower. Turn off your furnace off promptly and contact our professionals at 918-333-0376 for help.

When you’re noticing an atypical noise from your furnace, Farris Heating & Air is ready to help. Contact us at 918-333-0376 to book your furnace repair appointment right away.