Clanging, Hissing and Rattling: What Six Common Furnace Noises Indicate

When your furnace is working like it should, it should give warm air without generating too much noise. While it’s common to hear your furnace making noise as it starts up, other sounds are signaling your furnace needs immediate professional help.

Here are some of the most frequent furnace noises and what they could mean. If your furnace is making a strange noise, our friendly heating pros are here to help with the best furnace repair in Wilkes Barre and Scranton, Pennsylvania.

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 mean there could be a few problems. These range from gas increasing in your furnace or a ductwork situation.

Banging Sounds Coming from Your Furnace

Your heating system becomes filthy over time, so that’s why it’s essential to schedule seasonal furnace maintenance with GLR Mechanical. One of the things our techs do during this service is clean your furnace’s burners. When this part gets dirty, you may hear your furnace making a loud rumbling noise after ignition is delayed. The resulting gas buildup might break your furnace’s heat exchanger, where natural gas changes into warm air. Any fractures in it can emit carbon monoxide, which is normally emitted outside. This hazardous gas can be fatal in large concentrations.

If you’re noticing banging or knocking sounds coming from your furnace, GLR Mechanical advises turning it off and reaching us at 570-309-0403. Too much natural gas in your furnace or a ruptured heat exchanger are dangerous troubles that should get fast attention.

Banging Sounds Coming from Your Ductwork

Your furnace works with ductwork to move heated air around your house. If the ductwork wasn’t installed right or is getting dated, it can be noisy when your furnace runs. This can be the issue if your furnace makes a banging noise when it shuts off. Contact GLR Mechanical at 570-309-0403 and we’ll figure out the problem.

2. Furnace Makes a Buzzing Sound

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

Your furnace relies on an internal transformer to run on the right voltage. If wires or the box is loose, you may notice a low humming noise in the furnace when off. Your furnace also uses a blower motor, which moves warm or chilly air across your house, and a capacitor, which turns on the motor. If either of these components are fading, they will buzz when the furnace starts.

3. Furnace Making a Rattling Noise

If your furnace is making a rattling noise, it may be related to something minor, like a loose screw, or something major, like a broken component. In either case, we urge you to shut your furnace off and getting in touch with our heating specialists at 570-309-0403 for support.

4. Furnace Making a Squealing Noise

If your furnace makes a high-pitched noise, like squealing, when it’s on, it’s attempting to alert you 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 frequently slips your mind, but our techs can get your furnace operating quietly again rapidly.

5. Furnace Whistles

When you’re detecting your furnace making a whistling noise, it’s frequently because of an air leak in your ductwork. You could also notice whistling while the furnace is on if a floor vent isn’t secure. If you’ve looked at your vents but are still sensing noise, GLR Mechanical can assist you. It’s critical to get loose ductwork fixed quickly, because it can result in comfort troubles in your residence and drive up your heating bills.

6. Furnace Making a Grinding Noise

It’s not a good sign if you notice your furnace making a grinding noise. This metal-on-metal noise frequently means there’s a problem with your furnace’s blower. Turn off your furnace off immediately and contact our pros at 570-309-0403 for assistance.

When you’re noticing a strange noise from your furnace, GLR Mechanical is available to help. Contact us at 570-309-0403 to book your furnace repair appointment now.