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

When your furnace is operating correctly, it should deliver warm air without generating too much disruption. While it’s common to catch your furnace making noise as it turns on, other sounds are signaling your furnace requires immediate professional support.

Here are some of the most reported furnace noises and what they can be signaling. If your furnace is making an odd noise, our friendly heating pros are here to fix the problem with the best furnace repair in Lincoln, Nebraska.

1. Furnace Making a Banging Noise

You might have a critical problem 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 couple of problems. These include gas accumulating in your furnace or a ductwork issue.

Banging Sounds Coming from Your Furnace

Your heating system gets dirty over the years, so that’s why it’s essential to schedule annual furnace maintenance with AW Heating & Air Conditioning. One of the jobs our pros complete during this appointment is clean your furnace’s burners. When this piece gets dirty, you may hear your furnace making a loud rumbling noise after ignition takes longer than normal. The ensuing gas buildup can crack your furnace’s heat exchanger, where natural gas turns into warmth. Any breaks in it can leak carbon monoxide, which is normally 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, AW Heating & Air Conditioning urges you to turn it off and contacting us at 402-438-7992. Excessive natural gas in your furnace or a fractured heat exchanger are hazardous issues that necessitate fast attention.

Banging Sounds Coming from Your Ductwork

Your furnace relies on ductwork to deliver hot air across your house. If the ductwork wasn’t designed properly or is getting dated, it can be noisy when your furnace is on. This may be the case if your furnace makes a banging noise when it shuts off. Call AW Heating & Air Conditioning at 402-438-7992 and we’ll figure out the problem.

2. Furnace Makes a Buzzing Sound

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

Your furnace depends on an internal transformer to operate on the right voltage. If wires or the box is loose, you might notice a low humming noise in the furnace when off. Your furnace also works with a blower motor, which sends heated or cold air across your space, and a capacitor, which starts 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 could be due to something small, like an unfastened screw, or something critical, like a broken component. In either case, we urge you to shut your furnace off and calling our heating pros at 402-438-7992 for assistance.

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 trying to get your attention it requires some TLC. If you’ve forgotten furnace maintenance the last couple of years, belts could be worn down or a bearing might need to be lubricated. We know that maintenance sometimes slips your mind, but our technicians can get your furnace heating quietly again quickly.

5. Furnace Making a Whistling Noise

When you’re hearing your furnace making a whistling noise, it’s typically the result of an air leak in your ductwork. You may also be aware of whistling while the furnace is operating if a floor vent isn’t tight. If you’ve examined your vents but are still noticing noise, AW Heating & Air Conditioning can assist you. It’s critical to get loose ductwork repaired fast, since it can create comfort troubles in your house and increase your heating bills.

6. Furnace Makes Noise that Sounds Like Scraping Metal

It’s not a positive sign if you hear your furnace making a grinding noise. This metal-on-metal noise usually means there’s trouble with your furnace’s blower. Shut down your furnace off right away and reach us at 402-438-7992 for help.

When you’re noticing a weird noise from your furnace, AW Heating & Air Conditioning is here to support you. Contact us at 402-438-7992 to book your furnace repair appointment today.