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

October 13, 2020

When your furnace is running properly, it should provide warm air without generating too much disruption. While it’s expected to catch your furnace making noise as it begins running, other sounds are signaling your furnace should get immediate professional assistance.

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

1. Furnace Making a Banging Noise

You might have a critical issue on your hands if you’re noticing your furnace making a banging noise. If your furnace is making a knocking noise, it can indicate 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 grimy over the years, so that’s why it’s essential to book seasonal furnace maintenance with Gopher Heating and Air Conditioning. One of the tasks our techs do during this service is clean your furnace’s burners. When this component gets grimy, you might hear your furnace making a loud rumbling noise when ignition takes longer than normal. The subsequent gas buildup might crack your furnace’s heat exchanger, where natural gas transforms into warm air. Any breaks in it can discharge carbon monoxide, which is ordinarily vented outdoors. This toxic gas can be fatal in large concentrations.

If you’re noticing banging or knocking sounds coming from your furnace, Gopher Heating and Air Conditioning urges you to turn it off and reaching us at 952-373-0377. Excessive natural gas in your furnace or a cracked heat exchanger are hazardous issues that should get immediate service.

Banging Sounds Coming from Your Ductwork

Your furnace relies on ductwork to deliver hot air around your house. If the ductwork wasn’t installed properly or is getting old, it can be loud when your furnace is on. This may be the problem 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 hear your furnace making a buzzing noise, don’t hesitate to call us. A buzzing sound typically means there’s an electrical issue, like with its transformer, blower motor or capacitor.

Your furnace depends on an internal transformer to work on the proper voltage. If wires or the box is loose, you may detect a low humming noise in the furnace when off. Your furnace also has a blower motor, which moves heated or cold air across your residence, and a capacitor, which triggers the motor. If either of these components are failing, they will buzz when the furnace turns on.

3. Furnace Making a Rattling Noise

If your furnace is making a rattling noise, it might be the result of something little, like an unsecure screw, or something serious, like a broken part. In either case, we recommend shutting off your furnace and getting in touch with our heating pros 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 on, it’s attempting to tell you it could use some TLC. If you’ve neglected furnace maintenance the last couple of years, belts could be worn down or a bearing may need to be greased. We realize that maintenance sometimes slips your mind, but our pros can get your furnace running quietly again fast.

5. Furnace Making a Whistling Noise

When you’re detecting your furnace making a whistling noise, it’s typically because of an air leak in your ductwork. You could also be aware of whistling while the furnace is running if a floor vent isn’t tight. If you’ve checked your vents but are still hearing noise, Gopher Heating and Air Conditioning can provide support. It’s important to get loose ductwork taken care of quickly, as it can result in comfort troubles in your residence and inflate your utility 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 noise often means there’s an issue with your furnace’s blower. Shut down your furnace off right away and reach our pros at 952-373-0377 for assistance.

When you’re hearing a weird noise from your furnace, Gopher Heating and Air Conditioning is available to support you. Contact us at 952-373-0377 to schedule your furnace repair appointment now.