What is the whooshing sound from the heater?

Author: Magali Terry  |  Last update: Monday, July 14, 2025

The whooshing sound is that valve reversing to defrost the heat exchanger, which essentially means entering cooling mode temporarily. The refrigerant will run backwards in this mode, so the heat pump will essentially be pulling the hot air out of your home.

What is the whooshing sound in my house?

Do you ever hear a wheezing sound floating around your home? That's not an asthmatic ghost, it's your furnace. The wheezing or whooshing sound could potentially be from a dirty air filter. If your air filter is left for too long, it will inevitably get full of dust, dander, and other particles from your indoor air.

What causes the whoosh sound?

That Whooshing Sound May Be Caused By Tinnitus

An estimated 50 million Americans suffer from a condition known as tinnitus. Pronounced “ti-nuh-tuhs” (or alternatively, “ti-NIGHT-us”), tinnitus is characterized by a persistent ringing, swishing, buzzing, or—yes—whooshing sound in one or both ears.

What is the whooshing sound from a heat pump?

The “whooshing” sound you hear is made by a valve as it reverses your unit from the heating mode to the defrost mode. It's like your unit is briefly switching over from heating to air conditioning. This way the heat gets directed towards the outdoors, melting the ice on the heat exchangers, instead of into your house.

Why is my radiator making a whooshing noise?

A ``whooshing'' type sound is air in the system which needs to be purged or bled, depending on what kind of set-up exists down at the boiler. See if you have vents or little screw caps at the ends of your baseboard, and if so, search around here for how to bleed them.

5 Common AC Noises and What They Could Mean

Why does my heater make a whooshing sound?

This is normal since it's steam from the frost being rapidly melted off the heat exchanger. Try not to panic when you hear the whoosh and don't turn off your thermostat. If you do turn it off it won't be able to finish defrosting and the heat pump will take longer to heat back up when you turn it on again.

Why is my radiator making a gushing noise?

Home radiators tend to make gurgling noises on account of trapped air within them, which is trying desperately to escape the component.

How do I get rid of whooshing sound?

In some cases, sound therapy may help to suppress the thumping or whooshing sound caused by pulsatile tinnitus. Your doctor may recommend using a noise-suppressing device, such as a white noise machine or a wearable sound generator. The sound of an air conditioner or fan may also help, particularly at bedtime.

Why is my AC making a whooshing sound?

The air conditioning system's evaporator coil is tasked with pulling heat and excess humidity from the air. Due to a lack of AC maintenance, the evaporator coil can collect dust, dirt, and other debris that can disrupt airflow. This can cause noises such as whooshing when air passes over the coils.

Why do my pipes make a whooshing sound?

Often galvanized pipe and copper pipe will have these types of noises, because of the harder turns and the reverberation that occurs because the pipe is metal. Galvanized pipe often develops calcium and mineral deposits on the inside, which causes the water to swirl and create noisy water pipes.

Why can I hear whooshing?

The two large veins that bring blood out of the brain (transverse sinuses) are narrowed. This narrowing causes the “whooshing” tinnitus. It is like how a whistle works (it pushes air through a narrowed space).

Why does the whoosh effect happen?

The “whoosh effect” is a term for the noticeable weight loss that some people report while following low carb diets such as a keto diet. Some people believe that the whoosh effect happens when fat cells lose fat and fill with water. Researchers have not scientifically proven the whoosh effect, however.

What is that whooshing sound at night?

A rhythmic swooshing or whooshing noise inside of your head that often keeps pace with your pulse is the most common symptom of pulsatile tinnitus. This is commonly blood pulsing faster than normal through a variety of veins and arteries located near your ears.

What is the sloshing sound in my walls?

One of the primary culprits behind water gurgling noises is a blocked or partially obstructed drainage system. Over time, debris, grease, and other foreign objects can accumulate in your pipes, hindering the smooth flow of water.

Why can I hear the wind in my house?

If you can hear the wind whistling through your windows, there may be an issue with your windows. If windows are closed and you are hearing air passing through them into your home, there may be an issue with the seal, windows could be out of plumb, and other visible signs of drafty windows.

What is whooshing or swishing noise?

Heart murmurs are sounds — such as whooshing or swishing — made by rapid, choppy (turbulent) blood flow through the heart. The sounds can be heard with a device called a stethoscope. A typical heartbeat makes two sounds like "lubb-dupp" (sometimes described as "lub-DUP") when the heart valves are closing.

Why does my central heating make a whooshing sound?

Whooshing noises are caused by blockages either to the air intake pipe or to the air filter.

Why is my HVAC making noise?

Loud banging means the unit is broken and needs repair. A high-pitched whistling noise may be due to blocked airflow. Regular maintenance can prevent many common HVAC noises. Malfunctioning AC parts can become dangerous if action is not taken immediately.

Why does my AC blower make a wind sound?

Air filter clogged with dust can cause wind noises from the indoor unit. Please make sure that the air inlet is not obstructed by any object . ▶ Air filter clogged with dust can cause wind noises from the indoor unit.

When I move my head side to side, I hear a noise in my ear.?

Sometimes, moving your head, neck, or eyes, or touching certain parts of your body may produce tinnitus symptoms or temporarily change the quality of the perceived sound. This is called somatosensory (pronounced so-ma-toe-SENSE-uh-ree) tinnitus.

How can I stop pulsatile tinnitus at home?

If tinnitus is especially noticeable in quiet settings, try using a white noise machine to mask the noise from tinnitus. If you don't have a white noise machine, a fan, soft music or low-volume radio static also may help. Limit alcohol, caffeine and nicotine.

Can earwax cause whooshing sound?

Whooshing sounds may also be related to a build-up of earwax, and a microsuction treatment can resolve the issue.

Why does my radiator make a sloshing sound?

Running water noises within a radiator are most likely the result of a build-up of sludge or limescale, circulating through the system and then attaching itself to elements such as the pipes and valves. The noise you hear is water going through the system and sloshing into it, rather than flowing around unopposed.

What happens if you bleed a radiator with the heating on?

If the heating is left on, you not only risk scalding yourself, you might end up with a flood as the water gushes out. It's also not an efficient way to bleed radiators. If the water is pumping when you let out the air, it could be counterproductive and actually cause the system to draw in air instead.

Why does my radiator make a wind sound?

Central heating that sounds like wind blowing through a forest is usually the sound of air escaping the radiator. A hissing or whistling radiator is caused by too much air leaving your radiator and you might need to replace the air vent.

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