When your furnace is working correctly, it should give heat without creating too much noise. While it’s common to catch your furnace making noise as it starts up, other sounds are indicating your furnace should get immediate professional help.

Here are some of the most reported furnace noises and what they could mean. If your furnace is making a strange noise, our friendly heating pros are here to assist with the best furnace repair in Mankato area, Minnesota.

1. Furnace Making a Banging Noise

You may have an urgent situation on your hands if you’re detecting 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 problem.

Banging Sounds Coming from Your Furnace

Your heating system turns grimy over the years, so that’s why it’s important to book annual furnace maintenance with Northern Comfort Inc. One of the tasks our technicians do during this work is clean your furnace’s burners. When this piece gets dirty, you could hear your furnace making a loud rumbling noise after ignition takes more time. The ensuing gas buildup may break your furnace’s heat exchanger, where natural gas changes into warm air. Any fractures in it can leak carbon monoxide, which is ordinarily emitted outside. This dangerous gas can be lethal in large concentrations.

If you’re hearing banging or knocking sounds coming from your furnace, Northern Comfort Inc advises turning it off and calling us at 507-387-6596. Significant natural gas in your furnace or a fractured heat exchanger are dangerous troubles that require prompt repairs.

Banging Sounds Coming from Your Ductwork

Your furnace works with ductwork to move hot air around your home. If the ductwork wasn’t installed correctly or is getting dated, it can be loud when your furnace is heating. This may be the case if your furnace makes a banging noise when it shuts off. Get in touch with Northern Comfort Inc at 507-387-6596 and we’ll figure out the problem.

2. Furnace Makes a Buzzing Sound

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

Your furnace depends on an internal transformer to run on the proper 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 uses a blower motor, which sends warm or chilly air around your home, and a capacitor, which triggers the motor. If either of these parts are fading, they will buzz when the furnace starts.

3. Furnace Rattles

If your furnace is making a rattling noise, it can be due to something little, like an unfastened screw, or something major, like a broken component. In either case, we advise shutting your furnace off and contacting our heating professionals at 507-387-6596 for assistance.

4. Furnace Squeals

If your furnace makes a high-pitched noise, like squealing, when it’s going, it’s trying to get your attention it could use some TLC. If you’ve neglected furnace maintenance recently, belts could be worn out or a bearing could need to be lubed. We realize that maintenance frequently slips your mind, but our techs can get your furnace operating quietly again quickly.

5. Furnace Makes a Whistling Sound Like Air Escaping

When you’re detecting your furnace making a whistling noise, it’s frequently because of an air leak in your ductwork. You could also notice whistling while the furnace is working if a floor vent is loose. If you’ve examined your vents but are still sensing whistling, Northern Comfort Inc can help. It’s important to get loose ductwork fixed fast, since it can make comfort issues in your home and drive up your gas bills.

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 sound typically means there’s trouble with your furnace’s blower. Switch off your furnace off promptly and call our pros at 507-387-6596 for support.

When you’re hearing a weird noise from your furnace, Northern Comfort Inc is here to provide assistance. Contact us at 507-387-6596 to book your furnace repair appointment today.