As your furnace switches on and begins to warm up your house, it’s common for it to create some noise. These sounds, such as the burners lighting and the blower running, are all part of the normal start-up procedures.
But there are a few steps you can do to make your furnace quieter this winter.
1. Request Yearly Furnace Maintenance
Furnace maintenance is highly important, because it keeps your manufacturer warranty in place. This helps defend you if something big malfunctions in your furnace during your warranty period.
It can also help our pros find small problems that could make your furnace annoying. And maybe help you prevent a breakdown on the coldest day of the year. The Indoor Air Quality Association reports that annual maintenance can decrease your probability of furnace repairs by up to 95%.
If small furnace troubles are left ignored, they could lead to an issue in the future. By unearthing these problems sooner, our professionals can get your furnace repaired before heating season begins.
And, most essential, pro cleaning and lubrication of your furnace’s moving pieces can help make it more efficient. A properly maintained furnace could save up to 30% on your gas costs, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
2. Frequently Install a New Furnace’s Air Filter
Your air filter helps keep your home’s air fresh and clean. When it gets too clogged, it can make your furnace turn on and off too frequently. Known as short cycling, this can cause your furnace to use extra energy and make it stop working more quickly.
Our recommendations for replacing your furnace filter:
- Flat filter: Every month
- Pleated filter: Every three months
You could have to change your filter more often if you have allergies or pets.
3. Call Stanford Heating & Cooling When Your Furnace is Making Odd Noises
Some furnaces, particularly older ones, could be louder than others. But if you’re detecting very loud or strange noises, you might need to call a heating and cooling company like Stanford Heating & Cooling for furnace repair in Bloomfield.
Here are a few noises to keep an eye out for, how to repair them and when to call a professional.
Furnace Making Gurgling or Bubbling Noise
This noise occurs more commonly with high-efficiency furnaces. That’s because they exhaust fumes differently than older furnaces, and the process can create some moisture. If your furnace is running into troubles draining this water, it can make gurgling or bubbling sounds. You’ll require skilled assistance for this issue, since it can be the result of by a blocked drain pipe or clogged drain pan.
Furnace Making Banging Noise
It’s not a positive indicator when your furnace is making a banging sound. It might mean a couple of things.
Haven’t scheduled maintenance lately and your furnace is producing a banging sound when turning on? Its burners might be dirty. Dirty burners can hold up ignition, which causes gas to accumulate inside your furnace.
All that built-up gas can create a banging or booming racket when your furnace finally does ignite. But this is more than just an annoying noise, as the built-up gas is erupting in your furnace. This can damage your furnace’s heat exchanger and cause a life-threatening carbon monoxide leak.
If you’ve forgotten annual tune-ups for your furnace and you’re hearing this noise, give Stanford Heating & Cooling a call at 812-825-8695. Our heating specialists will get your furnace tuned up and ensure it’s operating accurately.
Your ductwork can also create banging sounds when your furnace starts, as the metal is expanding and contracting.
We suggest first looking at your furnace’s air filter and replacing it if it’s dirty. Next, make sure you don’t have too many vents sealed in your house, as it can make air pressure uneven.
If neither of these things fix the sound, your ductwork might be dirty or undersized, which will be a need for assistance from a skilled HVAC specialist.
Furnace Making Humming or Buzzing Noise
If your furnace is buzzing or humming, it’s a sign there’s an electrical problem. This is most often seen with a dying blower fan motor, which will produce an irritating buzzing noise when your furnace turns on. It could also mean there’s an issue with the capacitor or transformer. All three of these problems call for assistance from an experienced heating and cooling company like Stanford Heating & Cooling.
Furnace Making Knocking Noise
If your furnace is making knocking sounds, it’s frequently a sign that an internal piece is breaking down. This may be anything from a bearing to a belt or the gas valve. It may also be an indication that your burners need cleaning.
These troubles are usually caught during annual maintenance done by a certified HVAC tech. So, while we’re at your home working on repairs, don’t forget to ask us about requesting your maintenance appointment for the upcoming year.
Furnace Making Clicking Noise
A clicking sound can mean a couple of issues: worn bearings, gas valve issues or ignition problems. All these issues call for professional support.
At Stanford Heating & Cooling, our pros are here to help you relax in peaceful, energy-efficient comfort. If your furnace is louder than it usually is or producing weird sounds, contact us at 812-825-8695 to request an appointment today.