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

October 13, 2020

When your furnace is working correctly, it should deliver warmth without making too much disruption. While it’s expected to notice your furnace making noise as it starts up, other disruptions are signaling your furnace requires immediate professional support.

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

1. Furnace Making a Banging Noise

You could have an urgent situation on your hands if you’re detecting 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 issue.

Banging Sounds Coming from Your Furnace

Your heating system becomes grimy as time passes, so that’s why it’s essential to schedule yearly furnace maintenance with Bishop Heating & Air Conditioning. One of the jobs our pros perform during this appointment is clean your furnace’s burners. When this component gets dirty, you may hear your furnace making a loud rumbling noise after ignition is delayed. The resulting gas buildup might fracture your furnace’s heat exchanger, where natural gas changes into warmth. Any fractures in it can discharge carbon monoxide, which is regularly emitted away from your home. This toxic gas can be fatal in large concentrations.

If you’re hearing banging or knocking sounds coming from your furnace, Bishop Heating & Air Conditioning recommends turning it off and calling us at 760-784-9034. Excessive natural gas in your furnace or a broken heat exchanger are critical troubles that should get prompt attention.

Banging Sounds Coming from Your Ductwork

Your furnace relies on ductwork to move hot air throughout your home. If the ductwork wasn’t installed correctly or is getting dated, it can be loud when your furnace is heating. This might be the issue if your furnace makes a banging noise when it shuts off. Call Bishop Heating & Air Conditioning at 760-784-9034 and we’ll figure out 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 usually is telling you there’s an electrical problem, like with its transformer, blower motor or capacitor.

Your furnace uses an internal transformer to run on the correct voltage. If wires or the box isn’t tight enough, you may detect a low humming noise in the furnace when off. Your furnace also has a blower motor, which moves warm or cold air around your rooms, and a capacitor, which starts the motor. If either of these pieces 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 may be the result of something little, like an unsecure screw, or something serious, like a broken piece. In either case, we advise shutting your furnace off and contacting our heating pros at 760-784-9034 for assistance.

4. Furnace Making a Squealing Noise

If your furnace makes a high-pitched noise, like squealing, when it’s running, it’s making an effort to get your attention it could use some TLC. If you’ve skipped furnace maintenance the last couple of years, belts could be worn out or a bearing could need to be greased. We know that maintenance frequently 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 due to an air leak in your ductwork. You could also be aware of whistling while the furnace is working if a floor vent is loose. If you’ve examined your vents but are still sensing sound, Bishop Heating & Air Conditioning can assist you. It’s essential to get loose ductwork taken care of quickly, since it can create comfort issues in your house and inflate your energy costs.

6. Furnace Making a Grinding Noise

It’s not a good sign if you detect your furnace making a grinding noise. This metal-on-metal racket often means there’s an issue with your furnace’s blower. Turn off your furnace off now and reach us at 760-784-9034 for help.

When you’re noticing a strange noise from your furnace, Bishop Heating & Air Conditioning is ready to help. Contact us at 760-784-9034 to request your furnace repair appointment right away.