When your furnace is operating properly, it should provide warmth without generating too much noise. While it’s common to hear your furnace making noise as it starts up, other sounds are signaling your furnace requires immediate professional help.

Here are some of the most frequent furnace noises and what they could be indicating. If your furnace is making a weird noise, our friendly heating professionals are here to fix the problem with the best furnace repair in The Bay Area, California.

1. Furnace Making a Banging Noise

You could have a serious situation on your hands if you’re detecting 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 involve gas increasing in your furnace or a ductwork problem.

Banging Sounds Coming from Your Furnace

Your heating system becomes dirty over the years, so that’s why it’s important to book routine furnace maintenance with Contra Costa Heating & AC. One of the jobs our professionals do during this appointment is clean your furnace’s burners. When this piece gets grubby, you may hear your furnace making a loud rumbling noise when ignition takes longer than normal. The ensuing gas buildup can break your furnace’s heat exchanger, where natural gas changes into warmth. Any breaks in it can discharge carbon monoxide, which is regularly emitted outdoors. This toxic gas can be deadly in large concentrations.

If you’re aware of banging or knocking sounds coming from your furnace, Contra Costa Heating & AC advises turning it off and reaching us at 510-343-9841. Significant natural gas in your furnace or a ruptured heat exchanger are critical problems that require immediate service.

Banging Sounds Coming from Your Ductwork

Your furnace works with ductwork to deliver hot air around your residence. If the ductwork wasn’t designed properly or is aging, it can make a lot of noise when your furnace is heating. This could be the problem if your furnace makes a banging noise when it shuts off. Get in touch with Contra Costa Heating & AC at 510-343-9841 and we’ll figure out the problem.

2. Furnace Making a Buzzing Noise

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

Your furnace uses an internal transformer to run 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 works with a blower motor, which sends warm or chilly air across your space, and a capacitor, which starts the motor. If either of these pieces are failing, they will buzz when the furnace starts.

3. Furnace Making a Rattling Noise

If your furnace is making a rattling noise, it could be due to something small, like an unsecure screw, or something serious, like a broken piece. In either case, we urge you to shut your furnace off and calling our heating specialists at 510-343-9841 for assistance.

4. Furnace Making a Squealing Noise

If your furnace makes a high-pitched noise, like squealing, when it’s on, it’s making an effort to get your attention it requires some TLC. If you’ve forgotten furnace maintenance the last couple of years, belts could be worn down or a bearing may need to be lubricated. We realize that maintenance sometimes slips your mind, but our pros 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 frequently due to an air leak in your ductwork. You could also notice whistling while the furnace is running if a floor vent isn’t secure. If you’ve examined your vents but are still hearing noise, Contra Costa Heating & AC can provide support. It’s important to get loose ductwork taken care of without delay, because it can make comfort troubles in your home and drive up your gas bills.

6. Furnace Making a Grinding Noise

It’s not a positive sign if you hear your furnace making a grinding noise. This metal-on-metal sound typically means there’s trouble with your furnace’s blower. Switch off your furnace off right away and reach us at 510-343-9841 for support.

When you’re hearing an atypical noise from your furnace, Contra Costa Heating & AC is ready to support you. Contact us at 510-343-9841 to request your furnace repair appointment now.