As your furnace starts up and gets ready to warm up your house, it’s normal for it to produce some noise. These sounds, like the burners igniting and the blower whirring, are all part of the normal start-up process.

But there are a few approaches you can do to make your furnace less noisy this winter.

1. Book Regular Furnace Maintenance

Furnace maintenance is highly important, as it keeps your manufacturer warranty in place. This helps protect you if something big stops working in your furnace during your warranty time.

It can also help our professionals discover small issues that might make your furnace noisy. And possibly help you sidestep a malfunction on the chilliest day of the year. The Indoor Air Quality Association reports that annual maintenance can reduce your chance of furnace malfunctions by up to 95%.

If small furnace problems go unnoticed, they may result in trouble in the future. By uncovering these problems sooner, our techs can get your furnace fixed before heating season is underway.

And most essential, specialized cleaning and lubrication of your furnace’s moving parts can help make it more efficient. A well-maintained furnace could save up to 30% on your heating expenses, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

2. Routinely Install a New Furnace’s Air Filter

Your air filter helps keep your residence’s air fresh and clean. When it becomes too dirty, it can make your furnace turn on and off too often. 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: Every month
  • Pleated filter: Every three months

You may have to get a new filter more frequently if you have allergies or pets.

3. Contact Knoechel Heating When Your Furnace Is Producing Strange Noises

Some furnaces, particularly older ones, could make more noise than others. But if you’re noticing very loud or odd noises, it may be time to call a heating and cooling company like Knoechel Heating for furnace repair in Zelienople.

Here are a couple of noises to be looking for, how to solve them and when to contact a pro.

Furnace Making Gurgling or Bubbling Noise

This noise is more common with high-efficiency furnaces. That’s due to the fact they exhaust fumes differently than older furnaces, and the process can make some moisture. If your furnace is running into difficulties draining this water, it could make gurgling or bubbling sounds. You’ll need skilled support for this trouble, since it might 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 may mean a couple of things.

Haven’t had maintenance done recently and your furnace is creating a banging sound when starting? Its burners might be dirty. Dirty burners can stall ignition, which results in gas accumulating in your furnace.

All that built-up gas can create a banging or booming racket when your furnace eventually does ignite. But this is more than only an irritating noise, because the built-up gas is exploding within your furnace. This can crack 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 Knoechel Heating a ring at 724-425-5852. Our heating specialists will get your furnace tuned up and double-check 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 filthy. Next, ensure you don’t have too many vents shut in your home, as it can throw off air pressure.

If neither of these steps repair the problem, your ductwork could 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 flag there’s electrical troubles. This is most frequently seen with a dying blower fan motor, which will produce an irritating buzzing noise when your furnace turns on. It may also mean there’s a problem with the capacitor or transformer. All three of these troubles need help from a skilled heating and cooling company like Knoechel Heating.

Furnace Making Knocking Noise

If your furnace is making knocking sounds, it’s frequently a symptom that an internal component is breaking down. This may be anything from a bearing to a belt or the gas valve. It can also be a sign that your burners need to be cleaned.

These problems are usually uncovered during yearly maintenance performed by a certified HVAC professional. So, while we’re at your home performing repairs, don’t forget to inquire about booking your maintenance appointment for the future.

Furnace Making Clicking Noise

A clicking sound could be the result of issues: worn bearings, gas valve issues or ignition issues. All these issues need specialized assistance.

At Knoechel Heating, our pros are here to help you relax in peaceful, energy-efficient comfort. If your furnace is louder than it typically is or producing weird sounds, contact us at 724-425-5852 to request an appointment right away.