As your furnace starts up and gets ready to warm up your home, it’s normal for it to create some noise. These sounds, including the burners lighting and the blower running, are all part of the normal start-up process.
But there are a few steps you can do to make your furnace run more quietly this winter.
1. Schedule Annual 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 range.
It can also help our professionals discover small issues that can 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 annual maintenance can lower your chance of furnace malfunctions by up to 95%.
If small furnace issues go unnoticed, they may result in trouble later on. By finding these issues sooner, our professionals can get your furnace taken care of before heating season is in full swing.
And most essential, specialized cleaning and lubrication of your furnace’s moving pieces can help make it more efficient. A correctly 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 home’s air fresh and clean. When it turns too clogged, it can make your furnace turn on and off too frequently. Known as short cycling, this can cause your furnace to use additional gas and make it break down faster.
Our advice for replacing your furnace filter:
- Flat filter: Once a month
- Pleated filter: Every three months
You could have to replace your filter more regularly if you have allergies or pets.
3. Call Western Mechanical, Inc. When Your Furnace Is Producing Odd Noises
Some furnaces, especially older ones, might be louder than others. But if you’re detecting extremely loud or weird noises, it may be time to call a heating and cooling company like Western Mechanical, Inc. for furnace repair in Cache Valley.
Here are a couple of noises to be on the lookout for, how to repair them and when to contact a specialist.
Furnace Making Gurgling or Bubbling Noise
This noise occurs more commonly with high-efficiency furnaces. That’s since they emit fumes in another way than older furnaces, and the process can create some moisture. If your furnace is experiencing difficulties discharging this water, it may make gurgling or bubbling sounds. You’ll need pro 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 had maintenance done recently and your furnace is producing a banging sound when beginning? Its burners might be dirty. Dirty burners can delay ignition, which causes gas to accumulate inside your furnace.
All that accumulated gas can create a banging or booming noise when your furnace eventually does ignite. But this is more than merely an irritating noise, since the built-up 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 maintenance for your furnace and you’re detecting this noise, give Western Mechanical, Inc. a ring at 435-753-5515. Our heating pros will get your furnace tuned up and make sure it’s working correctly.
Your ductwork can also produce banging sounds when your furnace starts, as the metal is expanding and contracting.
We suggest first checking your furnace’s air filter and replacing it if it’s filthy. Next, ensure you don’t have too many vents closed in your home, as it can force air pressure out of balance.
If neither of these things repair the sound, your ductwork might be dirty or undersized, which will be a need for assistance from a professional HVAC technician.
Furnace Making Humming or Buzzing Noise
If your furnace is buzzing or humming, it’s a symptom there’s an electrical problem. This is most frequently seen with a sputtering blower fan motor, which will create an annoying buzzing noise when your furnace turns on. It can also mean there’s trouble with the capacitor or transformer. All three of these troubles need support from a professional heating and cooling company like Western Mechanical, Inc..
Furnace Making Knocking Noise
If your furnace is making knocking sounds, it’s typically a symptom that an internal component is going out. This can be anything from a bearing to a belt or the gas valve. It may also be a sign that your burners need cleaning.
These issues are usually uncovered during regular maintenance done by a certified HVAC professional. So, while we’re at your house doing repairs, don’t forget to ask us about scheduling your maintenance appointment for the upcoming year.
Furnace Making Clicking Noise
A clicking sound can be the result of things: worn bearings, gas valve issues or ignition issues. All these problems need professional help.
At Western Mechanical, Inc., our pros are here to help you relax in peaceful, energy-efficient comfort. If your furnace is louder than it typically is or producing odd sounds, contact us at 435-753-5515 to book an appointment right away.