Banging, Screeching and Rattling: What Six Common Furnace Sounds Indicate

When your furnace is operating correctly, it should give heat without generating too much noise. While it’s common to catch your furnace making noise as it begins running, other sounds are indicating your furnace should get immediate professional help.

Here are some of the most reported furnace noises and what they could be signaling. If your furnace is making a strange noise, our friendly heating pros are here to help with the best furnace repair in Carpentersville, Illinois.

1. Furnace Making a Banging Noise

You could have a serious problem on your hands if you’re noticing your furnace making a banging noise. If your furnace is making a knocking noise, it may indicate there could be a few problems. These involve gas building up in your furnace or a ductwork problem.

Banging Sounds Coming from Your Furnace

Your heating system turns dirty over the years, so that’s why it’s essential to schedule seasonal furnace maintenance with Controlled Comfort HVAC. One of the tasks our pros perform during this appointment is clean your furnace’s burners. When this piece gets dirty, you may hear your furnace making a loud rumbling noise if ignition takes longer than normal. The resulting gas buildup might fracture your furnace’s heat exchanger, where natural gas changes into heat. Any fractures in it can leak carbon monoxide, which is normally vented outside. This dangerous gas can be deadly in large concentrations.

If you’re hearing banging or knocking sounds coming from your furnace, Controlled Comfort HVAC recommends turning it off and calling us at 224-412-8308. Too much natural gas in your furnace or a broken heat exchanger are hazardous troubles that should get prompt attention.

Banging Sounds Coming from Your Ductwork

Your furnace works with ductwork to deliver hot air throughout your residence. If the ductwork wasn’t installed right or is getting dated, it can be noisy when your furnace is heating. This might be the issue if your furnace makes a banging noise when it shuts off. Contact Controlled Comfort HVAC at 224-412-8308 and we’ll determine the problem.

2. Furnace Buzzes Constantly

If you observe your furnace making a buzzing noise, don’t hesitate to call us. A buzzing sound usually is telling you there’s an electrical situation, like with its transformer, blower motor or capacitor.

Your furnace uses an internal transformer to operate on the correct 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 distributes heated or chilly air around your residence, and a capacitor, which turns on the motor. If either of these components are fading, they will buzz when the furnace turns on.

3. Furnace Making a Rattling Noise

If your furnace is making a rattling noise, it can be related to something small, like an unfastened screw, or something serious, like a broken piece. In either case, we urge you to shut your furnace off and calling our heating professionals at 224-412-8308 for support.

4. Furnace Is Making a High-Pitched Squealing Sound

If your furnace makes a high-pitched noise, like squealing, when it’s on, it’s making an effort to get your attention it needs some TLC. If you’ve forgotten furnace maintenance recently, belts could be worn out or a bearing might need to be greased. We realize that maintenance often slips your mind, but our pros can get your furnace running quietly again rapidly.

5. Furnace Makes a Whistling Sound Like Air Escaping

When you’re detecting your furnace making a whistling noise, it’s typically the result of an air leak in your ductwork. You could also notice whistling while the furnace is operating if a floor vent is loose. If you’ve checked your vents but are still sensing sound, Controlled Comfort HVAC can provide support. It’s important to get loose ductwork repaired fast, because it can create comfort troubles in your house and inflate your heating costs.

6. Furnace Makes a Loud, Unpleasant Grinding Noise

It’s not an encouraging sign if you detect your furnace making a grinding noise. This metal-on-metal noise typically means there’s trouble with your furnace’s blower. Switch off your furnace off promptly and reach our pros at 224-412-8308 for support.

When you’re hearing an uncommon noise from your furnace, Controlled Comfort HVAC is available to support you. Contact us at 224-412-8308 to request your furnace repair appointment today.