When your furnace is operating 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 noises are showing your furnace needs immediate professional help.

Here are some of the most reported furnace noises and what they can mean. If your furnace is making an odd noise, our friendly heating professionals are here to help with the best furnace repair in Hudsonville, Michigan.

1. Furnace Making a Banging Noise

You could have an urgent issue on your hands if you’re noticing your furnace making a banging noise. If your furnace is making a knocking noise, it may mean there could be a few problems. These include gas increasing in your furnace or a ductwork problem.

Banging Sounds Coming from Your Furnace

Your heating system turns dirty over the years, so that’s why it’s critical to schedule yearly furnace maintenance with West Michigan Heating & Air Conditioning Services. One of the things our professionals complete during this appointment is clean your furnace’s burners. When this piece gets dirty, you might hear your furnace making a loud rumbling noise if ignition is delayed. The ensuing gas buildup can crack your furnace’s heat exchanger, where natural gas transforms into warmth. Any breaks in it can emit carbon monoxide, which is regularly vented outside. This hazardous gas can be fatal in large concentrations.

If you’re noticing banging or knocking sounds coming from your furnace, West Michigan Heating & Air Conditioning Services urges you to turn it off and calling us at (616) 319-1436. Excessive natural gas in your furnace or a fractured heat exchanger are hazardous problems that should get immediate repairs.

Banging Sounds Coming from Your Ductwork

Your furnace works with ductwork to deliver heated air throughout your residence. If the ductwork wasn’t designed correctly or is getting old, it can make a lot of noise when your furnace is heating. This may be the problem if your furnace makes a banging noise when it shuts off. Call West Michigan Heating & Air Conditioning Services at (616) 319-1436 and we’ll pinpoint the problem.

2. Furnace Makes a Buzzing Sound

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 relies on an internal transformer to operate on the correct voltage. If wires or the box is loose, you might hear a low humming noise in the furnace when off. Your furnace also uses a blower motor, which moves heated or chilly air across your home, and a capacitor, which triggers the motor. If either of these parts are fading, they will buzz when the furnace turns on.

3. Furnace Makes Rattling Sounds Like Something Is Loose

If your furnace is making a rattling noise, it may be the result of something small, like an unfastened screw, or something critical, like a broken piece. In either case, we advise shutting your furnace off and calling our heating pros at (616) 319-1436 for assistance.

4. Furnace Making a Squealing Noise

If your furnace makes a high-pitched noise, like squealing, when it’s heating, it’s trying to get your attention it needs some TLC. If you’ve forgotten furnace maintenance recently, belts could be worn out or a bearing might need to be greased. We are aware that maintenance often slips your mind, but our pros can get your furnace running quietly again fast.

5. Furnace Makes a Whistling Sound Like Air Escaping

When you’re hearing your furnace making a whistling noise, it’s typically the result of an air leak in your ductwork. You could also notice whistling while the furnace is on if a floor vent isn’t tight. If you’ve looked at your vents but are still sensing noise, West Michigan Heating & Air Conditioning Services can assist you. It’s important to get loose ductwork fixed quickly, because it can create comfort issues in your residence and increase your gas costs.

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 noise often means there’s a problem with your furnace’s blower. Shut down your furnace off immediately and call us at (616) 319-1436 for support.

When you’re hearing a strange noise from your furnace, West Michigan Heating & Air Conditioning Services is ready to provide assistance. Contact us at (616) 319-1436 to request your furnace repair appointment today.