As your furnace starts up and prepares to warm up your residence, it’s expected for it to make some noise. These sounds, like the burners lighting and the blower running, are all part of the normal start-up process.
But there are a couple of approaches you can do to make your furnace run more quietly this winter.
1. Book Annual Furnace Maintenance
Furnace maintenance is highly important, as it keeps your manufacturer warranty ongoing. This helps defend you if something huge stops working in your furnace during your warranty time.
It can also help our pros uncover little issues that can make your furnace loud. And maybe help you prevent a malfunction on the coldest day of the year. The Indoor Air Quality Association reports that regular maintenance can decrease your chance of furnace malfunctions by up to 95%.
If minor furnace problems go unnoticed, they may cause trouble later on. By discovering these troubles sooner, our techs can get your furnace fixed before heating season is in full swing.
And most important, specialized 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 heating costs, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
2. Routinely Put in a New Furnace’s Air Filter
Your air filter helps keep your home’s air fresh and clean. When it turns too clogged, it can make your furnace turn on and off too frequently. Known as short cycling, this can cause your furnace to eat up additional energy and make it stop working faster.
Our recommendations for replacing your furnace filter:
- Flat filter: Monthly
- Pleated filter: Every three months
You might have to get a new filter more frequently if you have allergies or pets.
3. Call Stephen Hurst Pack Heating and Cooling When Your Furnace Is Making Weird Noises
Some furnaces, often older ones, can be louder than others. But if you’re detecting very loud or weird noises, you should get in touch with a heating and cooling company like Stephen Hurst Pack Heating and Cooling for furnace repair in Circleville.
Here are several noises to keep an eye out for, how to take care of them and when to get in touch with a professional.
Furnace Making Gurgling or Bubbling Noise
This noise is more common with high-efficiency furnaces. That’s since they emit fumes differently than older furnaces, and the process can produce some moisture. If your furnace is running into difficulties draining this water, it may make gurgling or bubbling sounds. You’ll want experienced support for this problem, since it can be created by a blocked drain pipe or clogged drain pan.
Furnace Making Banging Noise
It’s not a good thing when your furnace is making a banging sound. It might mean a few things.
Haven’t requested maintenance recently and your furnace is producing a banging sound when starting? Its burners can be dirty. Dirty burners can stall ignition, which leads gas to accumulate within your furnace.
All that built-up gas can cause a banging or booming noise when your furnace eventually does ignite. But this is more than merely an irritating noise, as the increased gas is exploding within your furnace. This can crack your furnace’s heat exchanger and cause a life-threatening carbon monoxide leak.
If you’ve forgotten regular tune-ups for your furnace and you’re detecting this noise, give Stephen Hurst Pack Heating and Cooling a call at 740-474-5940. Our heating specialists will get your furnace tuned up and double-check it’s working correctly.
Your ductwork can also produce banging sounds when your furnace starts, since the metal is expanding and contracting.
We advise first inspecting your furnace’s air filter and installing a new one if it’s clogged. Next, ensure you don’t have too many vents sealed in your residence, as it can force air pressure out of balance.
If neither of these things repair the sound, your ductwork could be dirty or undersized, which will require assistance from a skilled HVAC technician.
Furnace Making Humming or Buzzing Noise
If your furnace is buzzing or humming, it’s a flag there’s electrical troubles. This is most often seen with a sputtering blower fan motor, which will produce a loud buzzing noise when your furnace starts. It can also mean there’s a problem with the capacitor or transformer. All three of these problems need support from a professional heating and cooling company like Stephen Hurst Pack Heating and Cooling.
Furnace Making Knocking Noise
If your furnace is making knocking sounds, it’s typically a symptom that an internal part is breaking down. This can be anything from a bearing to a belt or the gas valve. It could also be an indication that your burners are dirty.
These problems are typically uncovered during annual maintenance provided by a certified HVAC tech. So, while we’re at your residence working on repairs, don’t forget to check with us about requesting your maintenance appointment for next year.
Furnace Making Clicking Noise
A clicking sound can be the result of problems: worn bearings, gas valve problems or ignition troubles. All these problems need professional assistance.
At Stephen Hurst Pack Heating and Cooling, our professionals are here to help you enjoy peaceful, energy-efficient comfort. If your furnace is louder than it usually is or producing strange sounds, contact us at 740-474-5940 to schedule an appointment now.