Banging, Hissing and Rattling: What Six Familiar Furnace Noises Can Mean

When your furnace is running correctly, it should give heat without creating too much sound. While it’s common to hear your furnace making noise as it starts up, other disruptions are showing your furnace requires immediate professional support.

Here are some of the most reported furnace noises and what they might be signaling. If your furnace is making an atypical noise, our friendly heating pros are here to assist with the best furnace repair in Santa Clarita, California.

1. Furnace Makes Banging or Knocking Sounds

You may have a critical issue on your hands if you’re detecting your furnace making a banging noise. If your furnace is making a knocking noise, it may mean there could be a few problems. These include gas building up in your furnace or a ductwork issue.

Banging Sounds Coming from Your Furnace

Your heating system gets filthy over time, so that’s why it’s essential to schedule yearly furnace maintenance with Verona HVAC. One of the jobs our pros perform during this appointment is clean your furnace’s burners. When this part gets dirty, you could hear your furnace making a loud rumbling noise if ignition is delayed. The resulting gas buildup may fracture your furnace’s heat exchanger, where natural gas turns into warmth. Any fractures in it can discharge carbon monoxide, which is regularly emitted away from your home. This dangerous gas can be fatal in large concentrations.

If you’re aware of banging or knocking sounds coming from your furnace, Verona HVAC recommends turning it off and contacting us at 818-306-3387. Significant natural gas in your furnace or a cracked heat exchanger are serious issues that necessitate immediate repairs.

Banging Sounds Coming from Your Ductwork

Your furnace uses ductwork to deliver hot air across your home. If the ductwork wasn’t put in properly or is getting dated, it can be loud when your furnace runs. This may be the case if your furnace makes a banging noise when it shuts off. Contact Verona HVAC at 818-306-3387 and we’ll determine the problem.

2. Furnace Buzzes Constantly

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

Your furnace relies on an internal transformer to operate on the right voltage. If wires or the box isn’t tight enough, you could detect a low humming noise in the furnace when off. Your furnace also works with a blower motor, which distributes hot or cold air around your residence, and a capacitor, which triggers the motor. If either of these components are failing, they will buzz when the furnace starts.

3. Furnace Makes Rattling Sounds Like Something Is Loose

If your furnace is making a rattling noise, it may be due to something little, like an unfastened screw, or something major, like a broken piece. In either case, we advise shutting your furnace off and calling our heating specialists at 818-306-3387 for support.

4. Furnace Making a Squealing Noise

If your furnace makes a high-pitched noise, like squealing, when it’s heating, it’s trying to tell you it requires some TLC. If you’ve forgotten furnace maintenance the last couple of years, belts could be worn down or a bearing may need to be lubed. We know that maintenance often slips your mind, but our professionals can get your furnace running quietly again quickly.

5. Furnace Whistles

When you’re noticing your furnace making a whistling noise, it’s typically 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 looked at your vents but are still noticing whistling, Verona HVAC can help. It’s critical to get loose ductwork repaired without delay, because it can create comfort troubles in your residence and inflate your energy expenses.

6. Furnace Makes a Loud, Unpleasant Grinding Noise

It’s not a good sign if you detect your furnace making a grinding noise. This metal-on-metal racket typically means there’s an issue with your furnace’s blower. Shut down your furnace off right away and call our professionals at 818-306-3387 for assistance.

When you’re getting an uncommon noise from your furnace, Verona HVAC is here to support you. Contact us at 818-306-3387 to schedule your furnace repair appointment today.