As your furnace turns on and begins to heat your house, it’s common for it to make some noise. These sounds, such as the burners igniting and the blower operating, are all part of the usual start-up steps.
But there are a couple of things you can do to make your furnace quieter this winter.
1. Book Yearly Furnace Maintenance
Furnace maintenance is highly important, because it keeps your manufacturer warranty ongoing. This helps shield you if something major stops working in your furnace during your warranty period.
It can also help our pros discover minor issues that can make your furnace loud. And potentially help you avoid a malfunction on the coldest day of the year. The Indoor Air Quality Association reports that regular maintenance can decrease your probability of furnace malfunctions by up to 95%.
If minor furnace issues go ignored, they may lead to trouble in the future. By uncovering these problems sooner, our pros can get your furnace taken care of before heating season is at its peak.
And most important, specialized cleaning and lubrication of your furnace’s moving components can help make it more efficient. A correctly maintained furnace could save up to 30% on your heating expenses, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
2. Regularly Install a New Furnace’s Air Filter
Your air filter helps keep your residence’s air fresh and clean. When it gets too filthy, 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 wear out faster.
Our advice for replacing your furnace filter:
- Flat filter: Monthly
- Pleated filter: Every three months
You could have to replace your filter more regularly if you have allergies or pets.
3. Get in Touch with Willco Air Conditioning, Refrigeration & Heating Inc. When Your Furnace Is Producing Odd Noises
Some furnaces, especially older ones, can be louder than others. But if you’re hearing extremely loud or weird noises, you should get in touch with a heating and cooling company like Willco Air Conditioning, Refrigeration & Heating Inc. for furnace repair in Sussex County.
Here are a few noises to be looking for, how to fix 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 discharge fumes dissimilarly than older furnaces, and the process can create some moisture. If your furnace is having difficulties removing this water, it may make gurgling or bubbling sounds. You’ll want skilled support for this trouble, since it could 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 scheduled maintenance recently and your furnace is producing a banging sound when beginning? Its burners could be dirty. Dirty burners can stall ignition, which results in gas accumulating within your furnace.
All that accumulated gas can make a banging or booming sound when your furnace ultimately does ignite. But this is more than only an irritating noise, because the increased gas is exploding within your furnace. This can damage your furnace’s heat exchanger and cause a life-threatening carbon monoxide leak.
If you’ve forgotten regular tune-ups for your furnace and you’re hearing this noise, give Willco Air Conditioning, Refrigeration & Heating Inc. a shout at 973-270-9244. Our heating professionals will get your furnace tuned up and make sure it’s working correctly.
Your ductwork can also produce banging sounds when your furnace starts, because the metal is expanding and contracting.
We advise first inspecting your furnace’s air filter and getting a new one if it’s dirty. Next, ensure you don’t have too many vents closed in your residence, as it can make air pressure uneven.
If neither of these things repair the problem, your ductwork might be dirty or undersized, which will call for assistance from a professional HVAC tech.
Furnace Making Humming or Buzzing Noise
If your furnace is buzzing or humming, it’s a flag there’s electrical troubles. This is most often seen with a sputtering blower fan motor, which will produce an annoying buzzing noise when your furnace turns on. It could also mean there’s a problem with the capacitor or transformer. All three of these troubles need help from a professional heating and cooling company like Willco Air Conditioning, Refrigeration & Heating Inc..
Furnace Making Knocking Noise
If your furnace is making knocking sounds, it’s usually a symptom that an internal part is breaking down. This can be anything from a bearing to a belt or the gas valve. It can also be an indication that your burners need to be cleaned.
These issues are usually uncovered during annual maintenance performed by a certified HVAC pro. So, while we’re at your residence doing repairs, don’t forget to check with us about scheduling 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 problems. All these problems need professional help.
At Willco Air Conditioning, Refrigeration & Heating Inc., our experts are here to help you relax in peaceful, energy-efficient comfort. If your furnace is louder than it usually is or producing strange sounds, contact us at 973-270-9244 to schedule an appointment today.