When properly working, your furnace should be nothing more than a faint sound in your home. However, when something is amiss with the system, your furnace can make a variety of noticeably loud and annoying sounds. Unfortunately, you may not know what these sounds mean or what action you need to take to stop the noise and get your furnace working correctly. Here are three common noises your furnace may make when repair is needed and the actions you should take if you hear one of these sounds.

Popping

If you hear popping when your furnace is running, the problem is most likely related to the ductwork, rather than the furnace itself. However, failing to correct the problem can be harmful to your furnace. If your furnace is having these issues, the hot air the furnace produces may not be making its way into your home. As such, your furnace is working harder than it needs to in order to heat your home.

A few small pops here and there is nothing to worry about. However, if the popping is loud or often, you will want to take action to correct the problem. The first thing you should do is open up all of the vents in your home. Your furnace and ductwork are designed to carry enough hot air into your home to heat the entire home. If your vents are closed, the hot air has nowhere to go. This can cause it to push on the ductwork and the vents, causing the popping system.

The other issue you will want to look at is the air filter on your furnace. Most furnaces have one to three air filters. These filters should be replaced every one to two months. If they aren't, the furnace has to work harder to pull in air to heat, which results in less air being pushed through the duct system. This can cause your return ducts to make a popping noise.

If you have opened your vents and replaced your air filters and the popping is still occurring, you will want to call in a professional to examine your system. Your ductwork may need to be replaced due to old age or you may have a furnace that is too large for your intake and return ducts.

Rattling

If you hear a rattling sound when your furnace is running, you may think you have a big problem to deal with. Many people think that the rattling sound is caused by a gear or other part that may have broken inside of the furnace. However, this isn't the case. The most common reason for the rattling sound is a loose screw on the cover that holds your furnace panel in place. If the screw is loose, the panel is moving, causing the rattling sound you hear.

If you hear a rattling sound, you should take your wrench and tighten all of the screws and bolts that hold the furnace panel cover in place. This should solve your problem.

If you have tightened the panel cover and you continue to hear a rattling noise, you will want to call in a professional. You may have bearings that are wearing, which can cause this noise. Unfortunately, this is not a problem that the average homeowner should attempt to fix.

Squealing

If you hear squealing as your furnace is operating, the blower-fan belt on your furnace has most likely slipped. This belt helps to turn the blower and the fan. But, when the belt isn't in place, these items struggle to turn, making the squealing sound you hear.

If you hear a squealing sound, you will want to open your furnace up. As you open the furnace up, you will see a large belt. This large belt is the blower-fan belt. One end of the belt should be secured around the blower, the other around the fan. When properly attached, the belt will be oval in shape and fit snuggly around both of these items. If you hear squealing, the belt may have become loose, in which case you will need to reposition it on the fan and or blower. If the belt is broken or stretched out, you will need to purchase a new belt and reattach it.

If the squealing problem persists after you have examined the blower-fan belt, you will need to call in a professional to examine your furnace. There are many smaller belts that are not easily accessible that may have broken. A professional can examine these belts and find out if one of these is the problem.

Popping, rattling and squealing are three of the most common sounds a furnace makes. If you hear these sounds, you know that your furnace is in need of repair. Failing to get your furnace the help it needs can worsen the problem and cause additional wear and strain on your furnace. Always promptly take action if you hear strange noises coming from your furnace. Continue your online research to learn more about this topic.