As your furnace switches on and prepares to warm up your residence, it’s normal for it to produce some noise. These sounds, including the burners lighting and the blower running, are all part of the normal start-up procedures.
But there are a few approaches you can do to make your furnace quieter this winter.
1. Book Annual Furnace Maintenance
Furnace maintenance is very important, because it keeps your manufacturer warranty ongoing. This helps protect you if something huge goes wrong with your furnace during your warranty period.
It can also help our pros find little issues that might make your furnace annoying. And potentially help you sidestep a breakdown on the most frigid day of the year. The Indoor Air Quality Association reports that annual maintenance can reduce your chance of furnace repairs by up to 95%.
If little furnace troubles keep on being ignored, they could result in an issue in the future. By unearthing these troubles early, our pros can get your furnace fixed before heating season begins.
And, most critical, professional cleaning and lubrication of your furnace’s moving parts can help make it more efficient. A properly maintained furnace could save up to 30% on your gas costs, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
2. Routinely Replace Your Furnace’s Air Filter
Your air filter helps keep your home’s air fresh and clean. When it gets too dirty, it can make your furnace turn on and off too frequently. Referred to as short cycling, this can cause your furnace to consume additional energy and make it break down faster.
Our recommendations for installing a new furnace filter:
- Flat filter: Monthly
- Pleated filter: Every three months
You may have to install a new filter more often if you have allergies or pets.
3. Get in Touch with Age Heating & Cooling When Your Furnace is Producing Weird Noises
Some furnaces, often older ones, can make more noise than others. But if you’re hearing very loud or odd noises, it may be time to contact a heating and cooling company like Age Heating & Cooling for furnace repair in Sandpoint.
Here are a couple of noises to be looking for, how to solve them and when to call a pro.
Furnace Making Gurgling or Bubbling Noise
This noise happens more frequently with high-efficiency furnaces. That’s because they exhaust fumes differently than older furnaces, and the process can make some moisture. If your furnace is running into troubles removing this water, it can make gurgling or bubbling sounds. You’ll need pro help for this problem, since it might be caused by a blocked drain pipe or clogged drain pan.
Furnace Making Banging Noise
It’s not a positive indicator when your furnace is making a banging sound. It might mean a couple of things.
Haven’t requested maintenance lately and your furnace is creating a banging sound when starting? Its burners may 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 racket when your furnace eventually does ignite. But this is more than only an irritating noise, as the built-up gas is igniting in your furnace. This can break your furnace’s heat exchanger and create a dangerous carbon monoxide leak.
If you’ve neglected yearly maintenance for your furnace and you’re noticing this noise, give Age Heating & Cooling a shout at 208-578-4258. Our heating professionals will get your furnace tuned up and double-check it’s operating safely.
Your ductwork can also create banging sounds when your furnace starts, as the metal is expanding and contracting.
We recommend first inspecting your furnace’s air filter and replacing it if it’s filthy. Next, double-check you don’t have too many vents shut in your home, as it can throw off air pressure.
If neither of these things fix the problem, your ductwork may be dirty or undersized, which will require assistance from a skilled HVAC tech.
Furnace Making Humming or Buzzing Noise
If your furnace is buzzing or humming, it’s a flag there’s an electrical problem. This is most often seen with a sputtering blower fan motor, which will produce a loud buzzing noise when your furnace starts. It may also mean there’s an issue with the capacitor or transformer. All three of these troubles need help from a skilled heating and cooling company like Age Heating & Cooling.
Furnace Making Knocking Noise
If your furnace is making knocking sounds, it’s typically a symptom that an internal component is going out. This might be anything from a bearing to a belt or the gas valve. It could also be a sign that your burners need to be cleaned.
These troubles are often caught during annual maintenance provided by a certified HVAC technician. So, while we’re at your home working on repairs, don’t forget to check with us about booking your maintenance appointment for next year.
Furnace Making Clicking Noise
A clicking sound may be the result of troubles: worn bearings, gas valve problems or ignition problems. All these troubles need skilled assistance.
At Age Heating & Cooling, our professionals are here to help you unwind in quiet, energy-efficient comfort. If your furnace is louder than it usually is or creating weird sounds, contact us at 208-578-4258 to request an appointment right away.