When your furnace is operating properly, it should deliver warm air without creating too much sound. While it’s common to hear your furnace making noise as it turns on, other sounds are showing your furnace should get immediate professional assistance.

Here are some of the most reported furnace noises and what they could be indicating. If your furnace is making a strange noise, our friendly heating professionals are here to help with the best furnace repair in Des Moines, Iowa.

1. Furnace Making a Banging Noise

You could have a serious 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 accumulating in your furnace or a ductwork issue.

Banging Sounds Coming from Your Furnace

Your heating system gets filthy over the years, so that’s why it’s essential to set seasonal furnace maintenance with Kohles & Bach Heating & Cooling. One of the tasks our techs do during this appointment is clean your furnace’s burners. When this component gets grubby, you could hear your furnace making a loud rumbling noise after ignition takes longer than normal. The following gas buildup can fracture your furnace’s heat exchanger, where natural gas changes into heat. Any fractures in it can emit carbon monoxide, which is regularly vented outside. This toxic gas can be deadly in large concentrations.

If you’re noticing banging or knocking sounds coming from your furnace, Kohles & Bach Heating & Cooling advises turning it off and reaching us at 515-278-2900. Too much natural gas in your furnace or a fractured heat exchanger are hazardous problems that require fast attention.

Banging Sounds Coming from Your Ductwork

Your furnace uses ductwork to provide warm air around your house. If the ductwork wasn’t put in properly or is getting dated, it can make a lot of noise when your furnace runs. This might be the case if your furnace makes a banging noise when it shuts off. Contact Kohles & Bach Heating & Cooling at 515-278-2900 and we’ll pinpoint the problem.

2. Furnace Making a Buzzing Noise

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

Your furnace uses an internal transformer to operate on the proper voltage. If wires or the box is loose, you may hear a low humming noise in the furnace when off. Your furnace also works with a blower motor, which sends heated or cooled air throughout your rooms, and a capacitor, which turns on the motor. If either of these parts are failing, they will buzz when the furnace switches 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 a loose screw, or something major, like a broken piece. In either case, we urge you to shut your furnace off and contacting our heating pros at 515-278-2900 for help.

4. Furnace Is Making a High-Pitched Squealing Sound

If your furnace makes a high-pitched noise, like squealing, when it’s running, it’s trying to alert you it requires some TLC. If you’ve neglected furnace maintenance the past few years, belts could be worn down or a bearing could 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 Makes a Whistling Sound Like Air Escaping

When you’re noticing your furnace making a whistling noise, it’s frequently the result of an air leak in your ductwork. You might also be aware of whistling while the furnace is working if a floor vent is loose. If you’ve looked at your vents but are still sensing noise, Kohles & Bach Heating & Cooling can help. It’s essential to get loose ductwork repaired quickly, because it can create comfort troubles in your house 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 usually means there’s trouble with your furnace’s blower. Shut down your furnace off immediately and call us at 515-278-2900 for support.

When you’re noticing an uncommon noise from your furnace, Kohles & Bach Heating & Cooling is ready to support you. Contact us at 515-278-2900 to schedule your furnace repair appointment right away.