When your furnace is running correctly, it should provide warm air without making too much sound. While it’s normal to catch your furnace making noise as it starts up, other disruptions are showing your furnace needs immediate professional help.
Here are some of the most common furnace noises and what they can mean. If your furnace is making a weird noise, our friendly heating specialists are here to help with the best furnace repair in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
1. Furnace Making a Banging Noise
You could have a serious issue on your hands if you’re noticing your furnace making a banging noise. If your furnace is making a knocking noise, it might mean there could be a couple of problems. These involve gas building up in your furnace or a ductwork situation.
Banging Sounds Coming from Your Furnace
Your heating system gets filthy over the years, so that’s why it’s critical to schedule routine furnace maintenance with Ilten's. One of the tasks our professionals perform during this service is clean your furnace’s burners. When this part gets dirty, you might hear your furnace making a loud rumbling noise if ignition takes longer than normal. The following gas buildup may break your furnace’s heat exchanger, where natural gas changes into warm air. Any cracks in it can leak carbon monoxide, which is regularly emitted outdoors. This dangerous gas can be lethal in large concentrations.
If you’re aware of banging or knocking sounds coming from your furnace, Ilten's recommends turning it off and calling us at 319-208-2351. Too much natural gas in your furnace or a cracked heat exchanger are dangerous issues that require immediate service.
Banging Sounds Coming from Your Ductwork
Your furnace works with ductwork to deliver hot air across your home. If the ductwork wasn’t designed correctly or is getting old, it can be noisy when your furnace is heating. This might be the problem if your furnace makes a banging noise when it shuts off. Call Ilten's at 319-208-2351 and we’ll determine the problem.
2. Furnace Buzzes Constantly
If you notice your furnace making a buzzing noise, don’t wait to call us. A buzzing sound usually indicates an electrical situation, like with its transformer, blower motor or capacitor.
Your furnace depends on an internal transformer to run on the right 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 moves hot or chilly air throughout your space, 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 Makes Rattling Sounds Like Something Is Loose
If your furnace is making a rattling noise, it can be the result of something little, like a loose screw, or something major, like a broken piece. In either case, we advise shutting your furnace off and getting in touch with our heating professionals at 319-208-2351 for help.
4. Furnace Making a Squealing Noise
If your furnace makes a high-pitched noise, like squealing, when it’s heating, it’s trying to alert you it could use some TLC. If you’ve neglected furnace maintenance the last couple of years, belts could be worn down or a bearing could need to be greased. We realize that maintenance often slips your mind, but our professionals can get your furnace heating quietly again fast.
5. Furnace Making a Whistling Noise
When you’re noticing your furnace making a whistling noise, it’s likely the result of an air leak in your ductwork. You might also hear whistling while the furnace is on if a floor vent isn’t secure. If you’ve checked your vents but are still sensing noise, Ilten's can assist you. It’s critical to get loose ductwork fixed without delay, as it can make comfort issues in your home and drive up your energy costs.
6. Furnace Makes a Loud, Unpleasant Grinding Noise
It’s not a good sign if you notice your furnace making a grinding noise. This metal-on-metal sound typically means there’s an issue with your furnace’s blower. Switch off your furnace off immediately and call our pros at 319-208-2351 for support.
When you’re noticing an uncommon noise from your furnace, Ilten's is available to support you. Contact us at 319-208-2351 to schedule your furnace repair appointment today.