Why is my wall heater making a knocking noise?

Author: Maiya Ferry MD  |  Last update: Saturday, April 26, 2025

Knocking A knocking noise could also mean there's an issue with the blower fan. For example, if the fan becomes misaligned, the blades may hit against parts of the furnace. As mentioned earlier, a loose fan may cause a scraping sound as well.

How do I stop my heater from knocking?

Bleeding your radiators will release any air that may be trapped inside. When air gets into your heating system, it can cause a banging noise because it increases the pressure in the system. Releasing pressure by bleeding the pipes of excess air can stop the banging noise from occurring.

Why is my heater making banging noises?

When heat hits the cold metal ducts, it causes expansion. When the heat cycle finishes, the ducts start to contract which may produce a loud bang. While these noises from your ductwork can sound concerning, there's usually nothing wrong with your ducts or ductwork system – it's just a normal sound.

Why is my heater making a tapping noise?

A worn-out igniter can periodically fail, and if it keeps trying to light the gas, your furnace will make a clicking sound. The noise may last until the flame ignites or the gas valve closes. This failure and its corresponding clicking noise can also result from the igniter's wiring coming undone.

Why is my heating making a clunking noise?

When looking at what causes banging noises in plumbing pipework airlocks are a very common cause. If the sound is a harsh banging or a clunking noise then it is extremely likely that there is an airlock somewhere in your system. Usually in the pipework, pump or the radiators.

Furnace Knocking

Why is there a knocking sound in my wall when the heat is on?

Ducts Hitting the Walls

Because the ducts in your heating system circulate both warm and cold air, they undergo expansion and contraction. As the metal parts of the ducts warm up, they move around a bit and cause banging noises. In most cases, these noises are normal.

Why is my electric heater banging?

There could be a few reasons why heaters make this sound, like dirty burners that need cleaning, or an excessive amount of gas inside the chambers. If you hear a banging or popping sound when the heater shuts off, it could mean your ductwork is contracting as the metal cools down.

What is the tapping sound in heating?

Whistling and tapping noises are common symptoms of internal mineral deposits as water struggles to flow through narrowed pipework. Similarly to air trapped in the system, you may also experience radiators that are hot at the top but cold at the bottom.

Is it okay if my heater makes noise?

A majority of furnaces will produce a low humming noise while they are operating. If this noise is becoming noticeably loud, this is a signal of a severe problem with your blower fan or capacitor. To prevent damage to your fan, it's important to call a licensed technician to inspect and repair the blower motor.

Is it normal for a heater to make popping noises?

Popping. If you hear popping sounds and you don't have a bag of popcorn in the microwave, you could be dealing with dirty furnace burners or damaged air ducts. When the burners are dirty, the buildup prevents them from igniting, which causes too much gas to build up, making a popping sound.

Why is my HVAC making a knocking sound?

Common causes of a knocking noise from a heat pump include frozen outdoor coils, an unbalanced indoor fan, loose parts rattling, and compressor damage. The icing on coils forces the unit to work harder, causing vibration.

How to stop radiator knocking?

How to Fix a Banging Noise in Your Radiator. In some cases, this can be solved by draining your radiator to free up trapped water and air. You need to ensure you turn off the boiler and gas supply, turn off the intake valve and wait for the radiator to cool down and open the drain valve again.

How do I stop my heater from clicking?

Once again, the solution is to get pipes away from walls and each other. Consult your plumber about shortening pipes that bump into walls. For pipes that touch each other, try pipe insulation to create a buffer between and stop the noise.

Why does my heater make banging noises?

Air pressure buildup within your HVAC system can push against the walls of the ducts, causing them to expand, which causes a banging or popping sound several seconds after you turn the system on.

How do you fix a knocking sound?

Here are steps you can follow:
  1. Switch to Higher Octane Fuel: Upgrade to a higher octane fuel to reduce the likelihood of premature ignition. ...
  2. Check Spark Plugs: Worn-out or incorrectly gapped spark plugs can contribute to engine knock. ...
  3. Adjust Ignition Timing: ...
  4. Reduce Engine Load: ...
  5. Use Fuel Additives:

Why does my wall heater make a banging sound when it shuts off?

Typically, when a heater makes a loud banging noise when it turns off, it's the sound of metal contracting. As the furnace cycles, air is pushed through the duct system into your living areas. A dirty filter restricts airflow, causing warm air to back up in the system.

Why does heater make knocking noise?

Inside your air ducts, two processes occur—contraction and expansion. As temperatures rise, your air ducts' metal parts heat up. These parts will then move around, producing a knocking sound in furnace vents. Fortunately, this is entirely normal and generally doesn't signal an issue.

Why is my house making loud banging noises?

If you hear similar clanging or loud banging noise in the walls, it can be a sign of clogs or air pressure in the system called a water hammer. If you don't resolve the problem, it can cause damage to the pipes, so consult a professional.

Why is my heater making a rattling noise?

If the heat exchanger is cracked, you'll likely notice rattling sounds as the system starts up. A cracked heat exchanger can cause a carbon monoxide leak. To fix this issue, it is important to call a professional HVAC technician to come and inspect your furnace and heat exchanger.

Why is there a tapping noise in my wall when the heat is on?

A: The noise inside your wall is your metal ductwork as it expands & contracts from the change of temperature inside your walls which is supplied by your forced air furnace. It is a noisy nuisance but not a big threat for the structure or your safety.

Why does my wall heater make a clicking noise?

If you're having problems with your heating system, the issue might be due to a damaged capacitor, especially if you hear clicking sounds from your heater. Clicking heater noises often mean your furnace's capacitor is failing and not properly regulating electricity to your blower fan.

What is the tap hammer sound?

As water flows into the sealed tank, the valve float can rock up and down, which opens and closes the valve. This movement can create a pressure wave which resonates through the pipework, creating the hammer sound.

Why is my electric wall heater making noise?

If the cabinet back is slightly warped when it's installed on the wall, it pinches the element, which more often than not is what causes the humming noise. By loosening the screws and retightening them, the element and cabinet are all secured in relation to how the heater is installed on the wall.

How do I stop my central heating from knocking?

If the pipe is secure and simply close to a wall, joist or other pipe, consider putting a small amount of cloth, foam or felt between the wall and pipe to remove the vibration. For pipes that have come loose, it can be much more difficult, especially if they're beneath the floorboards.

Why does my electric baseboard heater make a knocking sound?

I suspect what is happening is that as your electric baseboards are heating up, that as the elements expand and are slipping through the clips that hold it. And as they get stuck and release, it is creating the banging noise that you are hearing.

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