As your furnace switches on and prepares to warm up your residence, it’s common for it to make some noise. These sounds, including the burners igniting and the blower whirring, are all part of the typical start-up steps.
But there are a few approaches you can do to make your furnace run more quietly this winter.
1. Book Annual Furnace Maintenance
Furnace maintenance is highly important, because it keeps your manufacturer warranty in place. This helps shield you if something major stops working in your furnace during your warranty period.
It can also help our pros discover little issues that might make your furnace loud. And maybe help you prevent a malfunction on the chilliest day of the year. The Indoor Air Quality Association reports that routine maintenance can reduce your chance of furnace repairs by up to 95%.
If small furnace problems go unnoticed, they may lead to trouble down the road. By unearthing these troubles sooner, our techs can get your furnace taken care of before heating season is at its peak.
And most critical, pro cleaning and lubrication of your furnace’s moving pieces can help make it more efficient. A correctly maintained furnace could save up to 30% on your energy costs, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
2. Regularly Install a New Furnace’s Air Filter
Your air filter helps keep your house’s air fresh and clean. When it gets too filthy, it can make your furnace turn on and off too often. Called short cycling, this can cause your furnace to consume additional fuel and make it wear out faster.
Our advice for changing your furnace filter:
- Flat filter: Monthly
- Pleated filter: Every three months
You could have to get a new filter more regularly if you have allergies or pets.
3. Call Northwest Services When Your Furnace Is Making Weird Noises
Some furnaces, particularly older ones, could make more noise than others. But if you’re noticing very loud or strange noises, it may be time to contact a heating and cooling company like Northwest Services for furnace repair in Swanton.
Here are a few noises to be on the lookout for, how to solve them and when to get in touch with a professional.
Furnace Making Gurgling or Bubbling Noise
This noise occurs more commonly with high-efficiency furnaces. That’s since they emit fumes dissimilarly than older furnaces, and the process can produce some moisture. If your furnace is experiencing difficulties draining this water, it can make gurgling or bubbling sounds. You’ll want professional support for this trouble, since it may be created by a blocked drain pipe or clogged drain pan.
Furnace Making Banging Noise
It’s not a great thing when your furnace is making a banging sound. It may mean a couple of things.
Haven’t requested maintenance recently and your furnace is making a banging sound when beginning? Its burners may be dirty. Dirty burners can hold up ignition, which results in gas accumulating 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 only an irritating noise, as the built-up gas is igniting within your furnace. This can damage your furnace’s heat exchanger and cause a life-threatening carbon monoxide leak.
If you’ve overlooked regular maintenance for your furnace and you’re noticing this noise, give Northwest Services a shout at 419-548-5017. Our heating pros will get your furnace tuned up and make sure it’s operating correctly.
Your ductwork can also create banging sounds when your furnace starts, as the metal is expanding and contracting.
We recommend first checking your furnace’s air filter and installing a new one if it’s clogged. Next, ensure you don’t have too many vents closed in your house, as it can force air pressure out of balance.
If neither of these methods repair the issue, your ductwork could be dirty or undersized, which will call for assistance from a professional HVAC technician.
Furnace Making Humming or Buzzing Noise
If your furnace is buzzing or humming, it’s a symptom there’s an electrical problem. This is most often seen with a sputtering blower fan motor, which will create an irritating buzzing noise when your furnace begins to heat. It may also mean there’s trouble with the capacitor or transformer. All three of these troubles need assistance from a professional heating and cooling company like Northwest Services.
Furnace Making Knocking Noise
If your furnace is making knocking sounds, it’s often a symptom that an internal part is going out. This may be anything from a bearing to a belt or the gas valve. It may also be an indication that your burners need to be cleaned.
These troubles are often uncovered during yearly maintenance performed by a certified HVAC pro. So, while we’re at your home working on repairs, don’t forget to ask us about scheduling your maintenance appointment for the future.
Furnace Making Clicking Noise
A clicking sound can be the result of troubles: worn bearings, gas valve troubles or ignition troubles. All these issues need specialized assistance.
At Northwest Services, our experts are here to help you unwind in peaceful, energy-efficient comfort. If your furnace is louder than normal or producing odd sounds, contact us at 419-548-5017 to get an appointment right away.