As your furnace turns on and gets ready to warm up your residence, it’s expected for it to make some noise. These sounds, including the burners igniting and the blower whirring, are all part of the typical start-up process.
But there are several approaches you can do to make your furnace less noisy this winter.
1. Request Regular Furnace Maintenance
Furnace maintenance is extremely important, because it keeps your manufacturer warranty in place. This helps shield you if something huge goes wrong with your furnace during your warranty period.
It can also help our pros find little troubles that can make your furnace annoying. And possibly help you prevent a meltdown on the chilliest day of the year. The Indoor Air Quality Association reports that routine maintenance can decrease your likelihood of furnace repairs by up to 95%.
If small furnace issues keep on being unnoticed, they could lead to an issue later on. By finding these issues early, our pros can get your furnace repaired before heating season is underway.
And, most essential, professional cleaning and lubrication of your furnace’s moving parts can help make it more efficient. A correctly maintained furnace could save up to 30% on your heating bills, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
2. Routinely Change Your Furnace’s Air Filter
Your air filter helps keep your residence’s air fresh and clean. When it becomes too clogged, it can make your furnace turn on and off too frequently. Referred to as short cycling, this can cause your furnace to consume more fuel and make it break down more quickly.
Our advice for installing a new furnace filter:
- Flat filter: Monthly
- Pleated filter: Every three months
You might have to get a new filter more regularly if you have allergies or pets.
3. Contact H&C Heating and Cooling When Your Furnace is Producing Strange Noises
Some furnaces, particularly older ones, could be noisier than others. But if you’re hearing very loud or odd noises, it may be time to contact a heating and cooling company like H&C Heating and Cooling for furnace repair in Laurel.
Here are a few noises to keep an eye out for, how to solve them and when to get in touch with a specialist.
Furnace Making Gurgling or Bubbling Noise
This noise is more common 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 removing this water, it might make gurgling or bubbling sounds. You’ll want experienced assistance for this issue, since it could be created by a blocked drain pipe or clogged drain pan.
Furnace Making Banging Noise
It’s not a positive sign when your furnace is making a banging sound. It might mean a couple of things.
Haven’t scheduled maintenance this year and your furnace is creating a banging sound when turning on? Its burners may be dirty. Dirty burners can delay ignition, which results in gas accumulating within your furnace.
All that increased gas can make a banging or booming noise when your furnace ultimately does ignite. But this is more than only a bothersome noise, because the increased gas is igniting inside your furnace. This can crack your furnace’s heat exchanger and create a deadly carbon monoxide leak.
If you’ve neglected regular maintenance for your furnace and you’re detecting this noise, give H&C Heating and Cooling a call at 301-960-3247. Our heating professionals will get your furnace tuned up and make sure it’s working properly.
Your ductwork can also make banging sounds when your furnace turns on, because the metal is expanding and contracting.
We suggest first checking your furnace’s air filter and getting a new one if it’s dirty. Next, make sure you don’t have too many vents shut in your house, as it can force air pressure out of balance.
If neither of these steps repair the problem, your ductwork might be dirty or undersized, which will require assistance from a pro HVAC tech.
Furnace Making Humming or Buzzing Noise
If your furnace is buzzing or humming, it’s a sign there’s electrical troubles. This is most frequently seen with a dying blower fan motor, which will produce a loud 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 problems require help from a skilled heating and cooling company like H&C Heating and Cooling.
Furnace Making Knocking Noise
If your furnace is making knocking sounds, it’s frequently a symptom that an internal part is going out. This can be anything from a bearing to a belt or the gas valve. It may also be an indication that your burners need cleaning.
These issues are frequently uncovered during regular maintenance provided by a certified HVAC technician. So, while we’re at your home working on repairs, don’t forget to ask us about booking your maintenance appointment for the upcoming year.
Furnace Making Clicking Noise
A clicking sound might mean a couple of issues: worn bearings, gas valve troubles or ignition issues. All these problems require pro help.
At H&C Heating and Cooling, our experts are here to help you enjoy quiet, energy-efficient comfort. If your furnace is louder than it typically is or creating strange sounds, contact us at 301-960-3247 to book an appointment today.