A smoothly operating furnace is a quiet furnace, so if yours is making strange noises, you might need to take action. Here are a few sounds you should keep an ear out for, as well as when they indicate it’s time to call a heating contractor for a closer look.

5 Sounds Your Furnace Might Make & Their Causes

1. Screeching or Squealing

A screeching noise usually indicates something is wrong with your blower. It could mean the blower belt is worn out or the blower motor is malfunctioning. It may also be because the motor wheel is misaligned and scraping against the housing.

2. Booming

Periodic booms coming from your furnace could be an indicator of delayed ignition. When you have delayed ignition, gas has time to build up inside the furnace. When it finally ignites, the resulting explosions can lead to cracking inside the heat exchanger.

3. Clicking

A clicking noise coming from your furnace could mean another issue with your ignition. If the flame sensor is dirty or broken, it might not be reading the furnace status accurately and be sending signals to shut it down and reignite constantly. Your heating contractor can remedy this issue by cleaning or replacing the sensor.

4. Rattling

There are a number of potential reasons for your furnace to be rattling. It can be due to a crack in the heat exchanger, loose fittings in your ductwork, or a loose panel on your furnace. 

5. Rumbling

A house-shaking rumble coming from your furnace could be caused by oil in the combustion chamber that continues to burn once it has shut off. This problem could lead to a carbon monoxide leak, so call in your professional heating contractor as quickly as possible for repairs.

As a team of heating contractors serving the Greater Milwaukee area, Donovan & Jorgenson has been providing commercial and residential furnace installations and repairs for over 30 years. They care about serving their customers and providing reliable comfort year-round. They have an impeccable reputation with an A+ BBB® rating and are available around the clock for emergency services. For a free estimate or for more information, visit their website.