As your furnace switches on and prepares to heat your house, it’s expected for it to produce some noise. These sounds, including the burners firing up and the blower operating, are all part of the usual start-up steps.
But there are several things you can do to make your furnace less noisy this winter.
1. Book Yearly Furnace Maintenance
Furnace maintenance is extremely important, because it keeps your manufacturer warranty valid. This helps defend you if something huge stops working in your furnace during your warranty period.
It can also help our pros spot small issues that might make your furnace annoying. And maybe help you prevent a malfunction 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 little furnace issues go undetected, they may result in trouble later on. By unearthing these troubles sooner, our techs can get your furnace taken care of before heating season is at its peak.
And most critical, professional cleaning and lubrication of your furnace’s moving components can help make it more efficient. A well-maintained furnace could save up to 30% on your utility bills, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
2. Frequently Put in a New Furnace’s Air Filter
Your air filter helps keep your house’s air fresh and clean. When it turns too clogged, it can make your furnace turn on and off too often. Referred to as short cycling, this can cause your furnace to use additional fuel and make it stop working faster.
Our suggestions for installing a new furnace filter:
- Flat filter: Once a month
- Pleated filter: Every three months
You may have to get a new filter more often if you have allergies or pets.
3. Call Stanford Heating & Cooling When Your Furnace Is Producing Strange Noises
Some furnaces, often older ones, may make more noise than others. But if you’re detecting extremely loud or odd noises, you should contact a heating and cooling company like Stanford Heating & Cooling for furnace repair in Bloomfield.
Here are a few noises to be on the lookout for, how to solve them and when to contact a pro.
Furnace Making Gurgling or Bubbling Noise
This noise happens more frequently with high-efficiency furnaces. That’s due to the fact they discharge fumes differently than older furnaces, and the process can make some moisture. If your furnace is experiencing difficulties discharging this water, it could make gurgling or bubbling sounds. You’ll need skilled support for this issue, since it may be created by a blocked drain pipe or clogged drain pan.
Furnace Making Banging Noise
It’s not a positive thing when your furnace is making a banging sound. It can mean a couple of things.
Haven’t scheduled maintenance recently and your furnace is creating a banging sound when starting? Its burners can be dirty. Dirty burners can hold up ignition, which leads gas to accumulate in your furnace.
All that accumulated gas can cause a banging or booming sound when your furnace ultimately does ignite. But this is more than merely an irritating noise, since the increased gas is igniting within your furnace. This can break your furnace’s heat exchanger and cause a deadly carbon monoxide leak.
If you’ve neglected regular tune-ups for your furnace and you’re hearing this noise, give Stanford Heating & Cooling a ring at 812-825-8695. Our heating professionals will get your furnace tuned up and ensure it’s running correctly.
Your ductwork can also create banging sounds when your furnace turns on, as the metal is expanding and contracting.
We recommend first checking 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 residence, as it can force air pressure out of balance.
If neither of these things repair the problem, your ductwork could be dirty or undersized, which will require assistance from a pro HVAC specialist.
Furnace Making Humming or Buzzing Noise
If your furnace is buzzing or humming, it’s a flag there’s an electrical problem. This is most frequently seen with a sputtering blower fan motor, which will produce a loud buzzing noise when your furnace begins to heat. It can also mean there’s a problem with the capacitor or transformer. All three of these issues need support from a professional heating and cooling company like Stanford Heating & Cooling.
Furnace Making Knocking Noise
If your furnace is making knocking sounds, it’s usually a symptom that an internal component is breaking down. This may be anything from a bearing to a belt or the gas valve. It could also be a symptom that your burners need to be cleaned.
These troubles are often uncovered during yearly maintenance done by a certified HVAC professional. So, while we’re at your home doing repairs, don’t forget to check with us about requesting your maintenance appointment for the upcoming year.
Furnace Making Clicking Noise
A clicking sound can be the result of issues: worn bearings, gas valve problems or ignition issues. All these problems need skilled support.
At Stanford Heating & Cooling, our professionals are here to help you unwind in peaceful, energy-efficient comfort. If your furnace is louder than it usually is or producing odd sounds, contact us at 812-825-8695 to get an appointment now.