As your furnace turns on and begins to warm up your residence, it’s expected for it to produce some noise. These sounds, such as the burners lighting and the blower running, are all part of the normal start-up steps.
But there are a couple of steps you can do to make your furnace less noisy this winter.
1. Schedule Yearly Furnace Maintenance
Furnace maintenance is very important, because it keeps your manufacturer warranty in place. This helps defend you if something huge stops working in your furnace during your warranty period.
It can also help us find minor issues that could make your furnace noisy. And potentially help you prevent a breakdown on the coldest day of the year. The Indoor Air Quality Association reports that regular maintenance can reduce your likelihood of furnace repairs by up to 95%.
If small furnace problems go undetected, they may lead to trouble in the future. By discovering these issues sooner, our pros can get your furnace fixed before heating season is underway.
And most important, specialized cleaning and lubrication of your furnace’s moving pieces can help make it more efficient. A well-maintained furnace could save up to 30% on your energy expenses, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
2. Regularly Change Your Furnace’s Air Filter
Your air filter helps keep your house’s air fresh and clean. When it becomes too filthy, it can make your furnace turn on and off too frequently. Called short cycling, this can cause your furnace to consume additional gas and make it break down faster.
Our suggestions for installing a new furnace filter:
- Flat filter: Once a month
- Pleated filter: Every three months
You might have to get a new filter more often if you have allergies or pets.
3. Get in Touch with Alpine Summit Heating & Cooling When Your Furnace Is Creating Strange Noises
Some furnaces, particularly older ones, might be louder than others. But if you’re hearing very loud or odd noises, you should call a heating and cooling company like Alpine Summit Heating & Cooling for furnace repair in Athol.
Here are a few noises to be looking for, how to take care of them and when to contact a specialist.
Furnace Making Gurgling or Bubbling Noise
This noise is more common with high-efficiency furnaces. That’s due to the fact they discharge fumes in another way than older furnaces, and the process can produce some moisture. If your furnace is experiencing difficulties discharging this water, it might make gurgling or bubbling sounds. You’ll want pro} support for this issue, since it can 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 may mean several things.
Haven’t had maintenance done recently and your furnace is creating a banging sound when turning on? Its burners could be dirty. Dirty burners can hold up ignition, which results in gas accumulating inside your furnace.
All that accumulated gas can cause a banging or booming sound when your furnace finally} does ignite. But this is more than only an irritating noise, since the built-up gas is exploding within your furnace. This can damage your furnace’s heat exchanger and make a deadly carbon monoxide leak.
If you’ve overlooked regular tune-ups for your furnace and you’re noticing this noise, give Alpine Summit Heating & Cooling a ring at 208-561-1226. 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 switches on, as the metal is expanding and contracting.
We suggest first checking your furnace’s air filter and getting a new one if it’s clogged. Next, double-check 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 pro HVAC tech.
Furnace Making Humming or Buzzing Noise
If your furnace is buzzing or humming, it’s a flag there’s an electrical issue. This is most frequently seen with a dying blower fan motor, which will create a loud buzzing noise when your furnace starts. It might 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 Alpine Summit Heating & Cooling.
Furnace Making Knocking Noise
If your furnace is making knocking sounds, it’s typically 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 sign that your burners need cleaning.
These issues are often uncovered during annual maintenance performed by a certified HVAC pro. So, while we’re at your house doing repairs, don’t forget to ask 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 issues or ignition issues. All these issues need specialized help.
At Alpine Summit Heating & Cooling, our specialists are here to help you relax in peaceful, energy-efficient comfort. If your furnace is louder than it usually is or producing odd sounds, contact us at 208-561-1226 to get an appointment right away.
