When your furnace is running correctly, it should give heat without creating too much sound. While it’s expected to hear your furnace making noise as it turns on, other disruptions are signaling your furnace needs immediate professional help.

Here are some of the most reported furnace noises and what they could be indicating. If your furnace is making a strange noise, our friendly heating pros are here to assist with the best furnace repair in Des Moines, Iowa.

1. Furnace Makes a Banging Sound

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

Banging Sounds Coming from Your Furnace

Your heating system turns dirty over time, so that’s why it’s important to book annual furnace maintenance with Heartland Heating & Cooling. One of the tasks our professionals complete during this service is clean your furnace’s burners. When this piece gets dirty, you could hear your furnace making a loud rumbling noise when ignition takes longer than normal. The following gas buildup may break your furnace’s heat exchanger, where natural gas turns into warm air. Any fractures in it can discharge carbon monoxide, which is normally emitted outdoors. This toxic gas can be lethal in large concentrations.

If you’re aware of banging or knocking sounds coming from your furnace, Heartland Heating & Cooling advises turning it off and reaching us at 515-344-3579. Excessive natural gas in your furnace or a broken heat exchanger are critical troubles that should get immediate attention.

Banging Sounds Coming from Your Ductwork

Your furnace uses ductwork to deliver heated air throughout your residence. If the ductwork wasn’t installed correctly or is getting dated, it can be noisy when your furnace is on. This may be the case if your furnace makes a banging noise when it shuts off. Contact Heartland Heating & Cooling at 515-344-3579 and we’ll determine the problem.

2. Furnace Buzzes Constantly

If you observe your furnace making a buzzing noise, don’t delay calling us. A buzzing sound frequently means there’s an electrical situation, like with its transformer, blower motor or capacitor.

Your furnace depends on an internal transformer to work on the proper voltage. If wires or the box is loose, you may hear a low humming noise in the furnace when off. Your furnace also uses a blower motor, which moves warm or cold air throughout your home, and a capacitor, which triggers the motor. If either of these parts are going out, they will buzz when the furnace turns on.

3. Furnace Rattles

If your furnace is making a rattling noise, it may be related to something little, like an unfastened screw, or something critical, like a broken component. In either case, we recommend shutting off your furnace and calling our heating professionals at 515-344-3579 for assistance.

4. Furnace Is Making a High-Pitched Squealing Sound

If your furnace makes a high-pitched noise, like squealing, when it’s running, it’s making an effort to get your attention it needs some TLC. If you’ve neglected furnace maintenance the last couple of years, belts could be worn out or a bearing could need to be greased. We realize that maintenance sometimes slips your mind, but our techs can get your furnace running quietly again quickly.

5. Furnace Makes a Whistling Sound Like Air Escaping

When you’re noticing your furnace making a whistling noise, it’s typically the result of an air leak in your ductwork. You could also be aware of whistling while the furnace is operating if a floor vent isn’t secure. If you’ve looked at your vents but are still hearing noise, Heartland Heating & Cooling can help. It’s important to get loose ductwork fixed fast, since it can create comfort troubles in your home and increase your gas expenses.

6. Furnace Makes a Loud, Unpleasant Grinding Noise

It’s not an encouraging sign if you notice your furnace making a grinding noise. This metal-on-metal racket typically means there’s trouble with your furnace’s blower. Shut down your furnace off right away and call our pros at 515-344-3579 for support.

When you’re noticing an uncommon noise from your furnace, Heartland Heating & Cooling is ready to provide assistance. Contact us at 515-344-3579 to book your furnace repair appointment today.