Banging, Hissing and Rattling: What Six Common Furnace Sounds Mean

When your furnace is working like it should, it should provide warmth without creating too much sound. While it’s common to hear your furnace making noise as it begins running, other disruptions are signaling your furnace requires immediate professional support.

Here are some of the most common furnace noises and what they can mean. If your furnace is making a weird noise, our friendly heating pros are here to assist with the best furnace repair in Warrenton, Missouri.

1. Furnace Makes a Banging Sound

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 may indicate there could be a couple of problems. These range from gas accumulating in your furnace or a ductwork situation.

Banging Sounds Coming from Your Furnace

Your heating system becomes filthy as time passes, so that’s why it’s essential to set yearly furnace maintenance with Schraer Heating & Air Conditioning. One of the tasks our technicians complete during this service is clean your furnace’s burners. When this part gets grubby, you might hear your furnace making a loud rumbling noise after ignition takes longer than normal. The subsequent gas buildup may break your furnace’s heat exchanger, where natural gas changes into heat. Any breaks in it can leak carbon monoxide, which is regularly emitted outdoors. This dangerous gas can be fatal in large concentrations.

If you’re hearing banging or knocking sounds coming from your furnace, Schraer Heating & Air Conditioning advises turning it off and reaching us at 636-456-5041. Excessive natural gas in your furnace or a broken heat exchanger are hazardous issues that should get prompt attention.

Banging Sounds Coming from Your Ductwork

Your furnace uses ductwork to move warm air throughout your home. If the ductwork wasn’t installed correctly or is aging, it can make a lot of noise when your furnace runs. This may be the case if your furnace makes a banging noise when it shuts off. Call Schraer Heating & Air Conditioning at 636-456-5041 and we’ll figure out 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 means there’s an electrical situation, like with its transformer, blower motor or capacitor.

Your furnace uses an internal transformer to run on the proper voltage. If wires or the box needs to be tightened, you could hear a low humming noise in the furnace when off. Your furnace also uses a blower motor, which moves warm or cold air throughout your space, and a capacitor, which starts the motor. If either of these pieces are failing, they will buzz when the furnace starts.

3. Furnace Rattles

If your furnace is making a rattling noise, it can be related to something small, like a loose screw, or something critical, like a broken piece. In either case, we recommend shutting off your furnace and getting in touch with our heating pros at 636-456-5041 for help.

4. Furnace Making a Squealing Noise

If your furnace makes a high-pitched noise, like squealing, when it’s heating, it’s trying to alert you it requires some TLC. If you’ve skipped furnace maintenance the past few years, belts could be worn down or a bearing might need to be lubricated. We know that maintenance often slips your mind, but our professionals can get your furnace operating quietly again quickly.

5. Furnace Making a Whistling Noise

When you’re hearing your furnace making a whistling noise, it’s typically because of an air leak in your ductwork. You might also be aware of whistling while the furnace is on if a floor vent isn’t tight. If you’ve checked your vents but are still sensing whistling, Schraer Heating & Air Conditioning can assist you. It’s critical to get loose ductwork repaired quickly, because it can create comfort issues in your residence and inflate your energy costs.

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 sound typically means there’s a problem with your furnace’s blower. Switch off your furnace off instantly and call our professionals at 636-456-5041 for help.

When you’re hearing an atypical noise from your furnace, Schraer Heating & Air Conditioning is available to help. Contact us at 636-456-5041 to schedule your furnace repair appointment right away.