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

When your furnace is operating like it should, it should give heat without making too much sound. While it’s common to notice your furnace making noise as it turns on, other noises are indicating your furnace requires immediate professional help.

Here are some of the most frequent furnace noises and what they might mean. If your furnace is making an atypical noise, our friendly heating professionals are here to help with the best furnace repair in Savage, Minnesota.

1. Furnace Making a Banging Noise

You could have a serious situation 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 several problems. These range from gas increasing in your furnace or a ductwork issue.

Banging Sounds Coming from Your Furnace

Your heating system gets dirty over the years, so that’s why it’s essential to set annual furnace maintenance with Gopher Heating and Air Conditioning. One of the jobs our pros perform during this service is clean your furnace’s burners. When this component gets grubby, you could hear your furnace making a loud rumbling noise after ignition is delayed. The following gas buildup might break your furnace’s heat exchanger, where natural gas transforms into heat. Any fractures in it can leak carbon monoxide, which is normally released outside. This toxic gas can be deadly in large concentrations.

If you’re noticing banging or knocking sounds coming from your furnace, Gopher Heating and Air Conditioning advises turning it off and contacting us at 952-373-0377. Excessive natural gas in your furnace or a fractured heat exchanger are critical issues that necessitate immediate repairs.

Banging Sounds Coming from Your Ductwork

Your furnace relies on ductwork to move hot air around your house. If the ductwork wasn’t designed properly or is getting dated, it can make a lot of noise when your furnace is on. This can be the issue if your furnace makes a banging noise when it shuts off. Call Gopher Heating and Air Conditioning at 952-373-0377 and we’ll pinpoint the problem.

2. Furnace Making a Buzzing Noise

If you notice 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 right voltage. If wires or the box is loose, you might detect a low humming noise in the furnace when off. Your furnace also works with a blower motor, which distributes hot or cold air throughout your space, and a capacitor, which starts 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 can be the result of something minor, like a loose 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 professionals at 952-373-0377 for help.

4. Furnace Making a Squealing Noise

If your furnace makes a high-pitched noise, like squealing, when it’s heating, it’s attempting to alert you it requires some TLC. If you’ve forgotten furnace maintenance the past few years, belts could be worn down or a bearing could need to be greased. We realize that maintenance sometimes slips your mind, but our technicians can get your furnace heating quietly again fast.

5. Furnace Making a Whistling Noise

When you’re hearing your furnace making a whistling noise, it’s frequently the result of an air leak in your ductwork. You might also be aware of whistling while the furnace is operating if a floor vent isn’t secure. If you’ve examined your vents but are still hearing whistling, Gopher Heating and Air Conditioning can help. It’s essential to get loose ductwork taken care of quickly, because it can make comfort problems in your residence and increase 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 sound typically means there’s an issue with your furnace’s blower. Turn off your furnace off instantly and reach us at 952-373-0377 for help.

When you’re getting a weird noise from your furnace, Gopher Heating and Air Conditioning is here to help. Contact us at 952-373-0377 to schedule your furnace repair appointment right away.