When your furnace is running like it should, it should give warmth without creating too much noise. While it’s normal to hear your furnace making noise as it turns on, other sounds are signaling your furnace needs immediate professional support.

Here are some of the most common furnace noises and what they might be indicating. If your furnace is making an atypical noise, our friendly heating specialists are here to help with the best furnace repair in Laurel, Maryland.

1. Furnace Making a Banging Noise

You might have a serious issue on your hands if you’re detecting your furnace making a banging noise. If your furnace is making a knocking noise, it can indicate there could be a few problems. These range from gas building up in your furnace or a ductwork problem.

Banging Sounds Coming from Your Furnace

Your heating system turns filthy over the years, so that’s why it’s important to book seasonal furnace maintenance with H&C Heating and Cooling. One of the tasks our professionals complete during this work is clean your furnace’s burners. When this piece gets grubby, you could hear your furnace making a loud rumbling noise after ignition takes more time. The ensuing gas buildup may crack your furnace’s heat exchanger, where natural gas turns into heat. Any cracks in it can leak carbon monoxide, which is regularly vented away from your home. This dangerous gas can be deadly in large concentrations.

If you’re hearing banging or knocking sounds coming from your furnace, H&C Heating and Cooling advises turning it off and reaching us at 301-960-3247. Excessive natural gas in your furnace or a fractured heat exchanger are critical issues that necessitate immediate service.

Banging Sounds Coming from Your Ductwork

Your furnace works with ductwork to deliver hot air around your home. If the ductwork wasn’t put in right or is getting old, it can be noisy when your furnace is on. This could be the problem if your furnace makes a banging noise when it shuts off. Call H&C Heating and Cooling at 301-960-3247 and we’ll figure out the problem.

2. Furnace Buzzes Constantly

If you observe your furnace making a buzzing noise, don’t wait to call us. A buzzing sound typically is telling you there’s an electrical issue, like with its transformer, blower motor or capacitor.

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

3. Furnace Making a Rattling Noise

If your furnace is making a rattling noise, it may be the result of something minor, like an unfastened screw, or something major, like a broken piece. In either case, we recommend shutting off your furnace and contacting our heating specialists at 301-960-3247 for support.

4. Furnace Making a Squealing Noise

If your furnace makes a high-pitched noise, like squealing, when it’s running, it’s making an effort to alert you it needs some TLC. If you’ve skipped furnace maintenance the last couple of years, belts could be worn out or a bearing might need to be greased. We know that maintenance frequently slips your mind, but our technicians can get your furnace heating 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 could also hear whistling while the furnace is running if a floor vent isn’t tight. If you’ve looked at your vents but are still noticing sound, H&C Heating and Cooling can provide support. It’s important to get loose ductwork repaired quickly, because it can result in comfort problems in your home and inflate your utility expenses.

6. Furnace Makes Noise that Sounds Like Scraping Metal

It’s not an encouraging sign if you hear your furnace making a grinding noise. This metal-on-metal noise frequently means there’s trouble with your furnace’s blower. Shut down your furnace off now and contact us at 301-960-3247 for support.

When you’re hearing an uncommon noise from your furnace, H&C Heating and Cooling is here to help. Contact us at 301-960-3247 to request your furnace repair appointment now.