Your furnace has several components that work together to generate heat, including a blower, a heat exchanger, a burner, and a flue. Over time, these components can become worn or damaged, which can cause the furnace to make strange noises.
While some furnace noises are normal and nothing to worry about, others can indicate a severe problem that needs to be addressed immediately by a qualified furnace service technician.
Below are six furnace noises you shouldn’t ignore, but first, let’s discuss how your furnace works and what are “normal” noises.
How Your Furnace Works
Your furnace works by circulating heated air through ducts within your home. The furnace draws in cold air from the outside, passes over heated elements such as metal coils, and then pushes this warm air back out into the living spaces. Furnaces also control humidity levels by adding moisture to the air before it is circulated back into the house. To keep your furnace functioning correctly, maintenance should be performed regularly, including filter changes and safety checks.
Normal Furnace Noises
When it comes to a furnace, some buzzes and clangs can be normal noises. The sound of the fan turning on when your thermostat indicates that your home needs heating is usually not cause for concern. Similarly, occasional ticking or tapping sounds may be air flowing through the vents.
While some furnace noises may be harmless, others could signal a significant issue lurking beneath the surface. If you hear any of the following sounds coming from your furnace, contact an experienced furnace service technician as soon as possible to investigate!
Banging or Popping Sounds
If you hear banging or popping sounds from your furnace, it could be caused by a build-up of soot in the combustion chamber. This is a relatively easy problem to fix but should be done by a professional HVAC service technician.
Rattling Sounds
Rattling sounds may indicate that something is loose inside the furnace. This could be a piece of metal or even one of the furnace’s panels. If you hear rattling, shut off the furnace and call Presidential Heating and Air.
Hissing Sounds
If you hear hissing sounds coming from your furnace, it could mean a gas leak. Gas leaks are very serious and should always be addressed by a professional immediately. If you smell gas, open all the doors and windows in your home and leave the premises immediately. Do not try to fix the problem yourself—leave it to the professionals. Don’t forget to call your gas company and inform them of the suspected gas leak.
Rumbling Sounds
Rumbling noises coming from your furnace could indicate that the blower wheel is coming loose. The blower wheel moves air through the furnace and into your home. If the blower wheel becomes loose, it can damage the other components in the furnace and cause it to overheat. This can be a serious problem that should be addressed immediately.
Squealing Noises
Squealing noises from your furnace could be caused by several problems, including a loose blower belt, damaged bearings, or an imbalanced blower wheel. A licensed HVAC technician from Presidential Heating and Air can uncover and fix what is causing the squealing.
Clicking Noises
Clicking noises from your furnace could be caused by many problems, including loose parts, damaged bearings, or an imbalanced blower wheel. These problems can damage and overheat your system.
If you hear any strange noises (banging, popping, rattling, hissing, rumbling, squealing, or clicking) coming from your furnace, don’t ignore them! Some noises can indicate a serious problem that needs to be fixed by a professional. If you’re unsure what to do, err on the side of caution and call an HVAC technician for help. They’ll be able to diagnose the problem and get your furnace back up and running.
If you hear any of these noises coming from your furnace and live in the Gaithersburg, VA area, don’t hesitate to contact Presidential Heating & Air Conditioning, qualified furnace service technicians, who can diagnose and fix the problem.