When your furnace is running like it should, it should provide warm air without making too much disruption. While it’s common to notice your furnace making noise as it starts up, other noises are signaling your furnace should get immediate professional help.

Here are some of the most reported furnace noises and what they could be indicating. If your furnace is making an odd noise, our friendly heating pros are here to help with the best furnace repair in Ellsworth, Wisconsin.

1. Furnace Makes Banging or Knocking Sounds

You could have a serious situation on your hands if you’re hearing your furnace making a banging noise. If your furnace is making a knocking noise, it can indicate there could be a couple of problems. These range from gas increasing in your furnace or a ductwork situation.

Banging Sounds Coming from Your Furnace

Your heating system becomes grimy as time passes, so that’s why it’s critical to book yearly furnace maintenance with Walter's-Eaton's Electric, Plumbing, Heating & AC. One of the things our techs do during this work is clean your furnace’s burners. When this component gets dirty, you might hear your furnace making a loud rumbling noise after ignition takes more time. The resulting gas buildup can break your furnace’s heat exchanger, where natural gas changes into warmth. Any cracks in it can leak carbon monoxide, which is regularly released away from your home. This dangerous gas can be deadly in large concentrations.

If you’re noticing banging or knocking sounds coming from your furnace, Walter's-Eaton's Electric, Plumbing, Heating & AC recommends turning it off and reaching us at 715-318-6728. Significant natural gas in your furnace or a broken heat exchanger are hazardous troubles that should get prompt service.

Banging Sounds Coming from Your Ductwork

Your furnace works with ductwork to deliver hot air across your home. If the ductwork wasn’t installed properly or is getting dated, it can be noisy when your furnace is heating. This could be the issue if your furnace makes a banging noise when it shuts off. Contact Walter's-Eaton's Electric, Plumbing, Heating & AC at 715-318-6728 and we’ll determine the problem.

2. Furnace Making a Buzzing Noise

If you hear your furnace making a buzzing noise, don’t delay calling us. A buzzing sound often means there’s 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 detect a low humming noise in the furnace when off. Your furnace also uses a blower motor, which sends hot or cold air across your space, and a capacitor, which triggers the motor. If either of these pieces are going out, they will buzz when the furnace switches on.

3. Furnace Rattles

If your furnace is making a rattling noise, it may be the result of something small, like an unfastened screw, or something serious, like a broken piece. In either case, we advise shutting your furnace off and calling our heating specialists at 715-318-6728 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 alert you it requires some TLC. If you’ve neglected furnace maintenance recently, belts could be worn down or a bearing might need to be lubricated. We know that maintenance often slips your mind, but our professionals can get your furnace operating quietly again fast.

5. Furnace Making a Whistling Noise

When you’re hearing your furnace making a whistling noise, it’s typically due to an air leak in your ductwork. You may also be aware of whistling while the furnace is working if a floor vent is loose. If you’ve checked your vents but are still hearing sound, Walter's-Eaton's Electric, Plumbing, Heating & AC can assist you. It’s important to get loose ductwork repaired without delay, since it can create comfort troubles in your home and inflate your heating costs.

6. Furnace Making a Grinding Noise

It’s not a positive sign if you detect your furnace making a grinding noise. This metal-on-metal noise usually means there’s a problem with your furnace’s blower. Turn off your furnace off now and reach our pros at 715-318-6728 for support.

When you’re hearing a weird noise from your furnace, Walter's-Eaton's Electric, Plumbing, Heating & AC is here to help. Contact us at 715-318-6728 to schedule your furnace repair appointment today.