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What's that noise?

Bangs, squeals, clicks and gurgles all mean something. Pick the equipment and the sound to see the likely causes, how urgent it is, and what you can safely check first.

StopSmell gas (rotten eggs)? Leave now.

Don't flip switches, light anything or use your phone inside. Get everyone out, then call 911 and your gas utility's emergency line (Enbridge Gas, formerly Dominion Energy) from outside. For a burning or electrical smell, or a CO alarm going off, turn the system off, get fresh air, and call.

1. Where is the noise coming from?
2. What does it sound like?

Pick a sound

Choose the equipment and the sound above to see likely causes. The guide below covers the most urgent ones.

Quick guide

How urgent is it?

Turn it off & call now

  • Gas smell anywhere (leave the house first, then call from outside).
  • A loud boom from the furnace when the burners light (delayed ignition).
  • Burning, electrical or hot-metal smell, or a CO alarm.
  • Grinding, screeching or clanking from the outdoor compressor.
  • Water spraying or steadily running from the water heater's relief valve.

Schedule soon

  • Squealing motors and belts, repeated clicking with no heat, buzzing with a fan that won't spin.
  • Popping and rumbling in a tank water heater (hard water sediment).
  • Gurgling or dripping around a high-efficiency furnace's drain.

Usually safe to wait

  • Ducts ticking or popping as they warm and cool.
  • A single click when the thermostat calls, and a soft hum while running.
  • A whoosh and steam from a heat pump in defrost on cold mornings.
Not sure which bucket you're in? Treat it as the more urgent one. Shutting the system off for an hour while you call costs you nothing.

Questions

Common questions

Why does my furnace make a loud boom when it turns on?

A boom from the furnace cabinet when the burners light is usually delayed ignition: gas builds up for a moment before it lights. It can crack the heat exchanger over time. Turn the furnace off at the thermostat and have it checked.

Is a popping water heater dangerous?

Popping or rumbling in a tank water heater is almost always sediment from hard water. It isn't an emergency, but it wastes gas and wears out the tank, so schedule a flush.

Is it normal for my heat pump to hiss or whoosh in winter?

Yes. During defrost the heat pump reverses briefly, and you'll hear a whoosh and see steam off the outdoor unit. A constant hiss or a loud screech is not normal.

What should I do if I smell gas?

Don't flip switches or use your phone inside. Leave the house, then call 911 or your gas company's emergency line from outside. Don't go back in until they say it's safe.

Still hearing it?

Tell us what it sounds like and when it happens. We'll let you know whether it can wait. Call or text (385) 455-4700.

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