When your furnace is working like it should, it should provide warmth without making too much disruption. While it’s normal to catch your furnace making noise as it begins running, other disruptions are signaling your furnace should get immediate professional help.

Here are some of the most reported furnace noises and what they might mean. If your furnace is making a strange noise, our friendly heating professionals are here to help with the best furnace repair in Manassas, Virginia.

1. Furnace Makes Banging or Knocking Sounds

You might have an urgent problem on your hands if you’re detecting your furnace making a banging noise. If your furnace is making a knocking noise, it might indicate there could be several problems. These involve gas building up in your furnace or a ductwork situation.

Banging Sounds Coming from Your Furnace

Your heating system gets dirty over time, so that’s why it’s critical to schedule yearly furnace maintenance with Fire & Ice HVAC. One of the things our professionals perform during this work is clean your furnace’s burners. When this part gets grubby, 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 transforms into heat. Any breaks in it can leak carbon monoxide, which is normally emitted away from your home. This toxic gas can be lethal in large concentrations.

If you’re aware of banging or knocking sounds coming from your furnace, Fire & Ice HVAC advises turning it off and reaching us at 703-595-4157. Significant natural gas in your furnace or a broken heat exchanger are dangerous issues that require prompt repairs.

Banging Sounds Coming from Your Ductwork

Your furnace relies on ductwork to provide warm air throughout your home. If the ductwork wasn’t designed correctly or is aging, it can be noisy when your furnace is heating. This may be the issue if your furnace makes a banging noise when it shuts off. Call Fire & Ice HVAC at 703-595-4157 and we’ll figure out the problem.

2. Furnace Makes a Buzzing Sound

If you hear your furnace making a buzzing noise, don’t wait to call us. A buzzing sound often indicates an electrical situation, like with its transformer, blower motor or capacitor.

Your furnace relies on an internal transformer to work on the proper voltage. If wires or the box is loose, you could notice a low humming noise in the furnace when off. Your furnace also uses a blower motor, which moves hot or cooled air throughout your residence, and a capacitor, which turns on the motor. If either of these parts are failing, they will buzz when the furnace switches on.

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 critical, like a broken component. In either case, we advise shutting your furnace off and calling our heating pros at 703-595-4157 for assistance.

4. Furnace Squeals

If your furnace makes a high-pitched noise, like squealing, when it’s running, it’s trying to get your attention it could use some TLC. If you’ve forgotten furnace maintenance the last couple of years, belts could be worn out or a bearing might need to be lubed. We realize that maintenance sometimes slips your mind, but our pros can get your furnace heating quietly again quickly.

5. Furnace Whistles

When you’re hearing your furnace making a whistling noise, it’s likely due to an air leak in your ductwork. You could also be aware of whistling while the furnace is on if a floor vent is loose. If you’ve checked your vents but are still sensing whistling, Fire & Ice HVAC can help. It’s important to get loose ductwork repaired fast, because it can result in comfort problems in your home and drive up your energy bills.

6. Furnace Makes Noise that Sounds Like Scraping Metal

It’s not a positive sign if you detect your furnace making a grinding noise. This metal-on-metal racket usually means there’s an issue with your furnace’s blower. Turn off your furnace off promptly and contact our professionals at 703-595-4157 for help.

When you’re noticing an atypical noise from your furnace, Fire & Ice HVAC is here to help. Contact us at 703-595-4157 to schedule your furnace repair appointment now.