As your furnace starts up and begins to add warmth to your home, it’s expected for it to create some noise. These sounds, such as the burners firing up and the blower whirring, are all part of the typical start-up process.
But there are several steps you can do to make your furnace less noisy this winter.
1. Schedule Annual Furnace Maintenance
Furnace maintenance is extremely important, since it keeps your manufacturer warranty ongoing. This helps shield you if something huge stops working in your furnace during your warranty range.
It can also help us find small issues that might make your furnace loud. And potentially help you prevent a malfunction on the chilliest day of the year. The Indoor Air Quality Association reports that annual maintenance can reduce your chance of furnace breakdowns by up to 95%.
If minor furnace troubles go undetected, they may lead to trouble later on. By discovering these issues sooner, our pros can get your furnace taken care of before heating season is underway.
And most important, 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 utility 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 becomes too dirty, it can make your furnace turn on and off too often. Called short cycling, this can cause your furnace to eat up additional energy and make it wear out faster.
Our recommendations for replacing your furnace filter:
- Flat filter: Once a month
- Pleated filter: Every three months
You may have to get a new filter more regularly if you have allergies or pets.
3. Call Knoechel Heating When Your Furnace Is Making Odd Noises
Some furnaces, especially older ones, could make more noise than others. But if you’re detecting exceedingly loud or weird noises, you should call a heating and cooling company like Knoechel Heating for furnace repair in Zelienople.
Here are a couple of noises to keep an eye out for, how to solve them and when to get in touch with a pro.
Furnace Making Gurgling or Bubbling Noise
This noise happens more frequently with high-efficiency furnaces. That’s due to the fact 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 could make gurgling or bubbling sounds. You’ll need professional support for this issue, 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 scheduled maintenance recently and your furnace is making a banging sound when turning on? Its burners could be dirty. Dirty burners can hold up ignition, which leads gas to accumulate within your furnace.
All that accumulated gas can cause a banging or booming noise when your furnace ultimately does ignite. But this is more than only an irritating noise, as the accumulated gas is igniting within your furnace. This can break your furnace’s heat exchanger and create a dangerous carbon monoxide leak.
If you’ve forgotten regular service for your furnace and you’re detecting this noise, give Knoechel Heating a shout at 724-425-5852. Our heating specialists will get your furnace tuned up and ensure it’s running correctly.
Your ductwork can also make banging sounds when your furnace starts, as the metal is expanding and contracting.
We recommend first checking your furnace’s air filter and replacing it if it’s filthy. Next, ensure you don’t have too many vents shut in your house, as it can make air pressure uneven.
If neither of these methods repair the problem, your ductwork may be dirty or undersized, which will call for assistance from a skilled HVAC specialist.
Furnace Making Humming or Buzzing Noise
If your furnace is buzzing or humming, it’s a symptom there’s electrical troubles. This is most frequently seen with a sputtering blower fan motor, which will make an annoying buzzing noise when your furnace begins to heat. It could also mean there’s an issue with the capacitor or transformer. All three of these issues need support from an experienced 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 part is dying. This could be anything from a bearing to a belt or the gas valve. It could also be a symptom that your burners are dirty.
These problems are typically uncovered during annual maintenance provided by a certified HVAC pro. So, while we’re at your home doing repairs, don’t forget to check with us about booking your maintenance appointment for the future.
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 specialized help.
At Knoechel Heating, our experts are here to help you unwind in peaceful, energy-efficient comfort. If your furnace is louder than normal or producing strange sounds, contact us at 724-425-5852 to request an appointment today.