When your furnace is working correctly, it should give warm air without creating too much disruption. While it’s normal to hear your furnace making noise as it starts up, other noises are indicating your furnace needs immediate professional help.

Here are some of the most common furnace noises and what they can mean. If your furnace is making a weird noise, our friendly heating professionals are here to help with the best furnace repair in The Bay Area, California.

1. Furnace Making a Banging Noise

You could have a critical situation on your hands if you’re hearing your furnace making a banging noise. If your furnace is making a knocking noise, it may indicate there could be a couple of problems. These include gas building up in your furnace or a ductwork issue.

Banging Sounds Coming from Your Furnace

Your heating system turns dirty over the years, so that’s why it’s important to book routine furnace maintenance with Contra Costa Heating & AC. One of the things our techs do during this work is clean your furnace’s burners. When this component gets grubby, you may hear your furnace making a loud rumbling noise after ignition takes more time. The resulting gas buildup may fracture your furnace’s heat exchanger, where natural gas turns into heat. Any breaks in it can discharge carbon monoxide, which is regularly vented outside. This dangerous gas can be deadly in large concentrations.

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

Banging Sounds Coming from Your Ductwork

Your furnace works with ductwork to move hot air around your home. If the ductwork wasn’t designed properly or is getting dated, it can make a lot of noise when your furnace is heating. This could be the issue 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 determine 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 usually is telling you there’s an electrical issue, 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 has a blower motor, which distributes hot or chilly air across your rooms, and a capacitor, which turns on the motor. If either of these parts are failing, they will buzz when the furnace turns on.

3. Furnace Rattles

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

4. Furnace Squeals

If your furnace makes a high-pitched noise, like squealing, when it’s heating, it’s trying to tell you it needs some TLC. If you’ve forgotten furnace maintenance recently, belts could be worn out or a bearing may need to be greased. We realize that maintenance sometimes slips your mind, but our professionals can get your furnace operating quietly again quickly.

5. Furnace Whistles

When you’re detecting your furnace making a whistling noise, it’s frequently due to an air leak in your ductwork. You might also be aware of whistling while the furnace is operating if a floor vent is loose. If you’ve examined your vents but are still sensing whistling, Contra Costa Heating & AC can provide support. It’s important to get loose ductwork fixed fast, since it can create comfort problems in your house and drive up your heating bills.

6. Furnace Makes a Loud, Unpleasant Grinding Noise

It’s not a good 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. Turn off your furnace off promptly and reach us at 510-343-9841 for assistance.

When you’re noticing an uncommon noise from your furnace, Contra Costa Heating & AC is available to help. Contact us at 510-343-9841 to schedule your furnace repair appointment today.