As your furnace starts up and prepares to add warmth to your residence, it’s typical for it to make some noise. These sounds, such as the burners lighting and the blower running, are all part of the usual start-up procedures.

But there are a couple of things you can do to make your furnace quieter this winter.

1. Request Annual Furnace Maintenance

Furnace maintenance is very important, since it keeps your manufacturer warranty valid. This helps protect you if something big stops working in your furnace during your warranty time.

It can also help our pros discover small issues that can make your furnace noisy. And possibly help you sidestep a meltdown on the most frigid day of the year. The Indoor Air Quality Association reports that routine maintenance can lower your chance of furnace repairs by up to 95%.

If minor furnace problems go undetected, they may result in trouble later on. By discovering these issues sooner, our professionals can get your furnace fixed before heating season begins.

And most important, pro 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 utility expenses, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

2. Frequently Change Your Furnace’s Air Filter

Your air filter helps keep your home’s air fresh and clean. When it becomes too filthy, it can make your furnace turn on and off too frequently. Referred to as short cycling, this can cause your furnace to use additional energy and make it wear out faster.

Our recommendations for replacing your furnace filter:

  • Flat filter: Monthly
  • Pleated filter: Every three months

You might have to replace your filter more regularly if you have allergies or pets.

3. Call Age Heating & Cooling When Your Furnace Is Making Odd Noises

Some furnaces, often older ones, might be louder than others. But if you’re hearing extremely loud or strange noises, you should get in touch with a heating and cooling company like Age Heating & Cooling for furnace repair in Sandpoint.

Here are several noises to be on the lookout for, how to take care of them and when to get in touch with a professional.

Furnace Making Gurgling or Bubbling Noise

This noise is more common with high-efficiency furnaces. That’s because they emit fumes in another way than older furnaces, and the process can create some moisture. If your furnace is running into difficulties discharging this water, it might make gurgling or bubbling sounds. You’ll require skilled} support for this problem, since it may 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 can mean a few things.

Haven’t requested maintenance recently and your furnace is making a banging sound when beginning? Its burners could be dirty. Dirty burners can delay ignition, which leads gas to accumulate in your furnace.

All that increased gas can cause a banging or booming noise when your furnace eventually} does ignite. But this is more than merely an irritating noise, because the accumulated gas is igniting within your furnace. This can crack your furnace’s heat exchanger and cause a life-threatening carbon monoxide leak.

If you’ve neglected regular service for your furnace and you’re detecting this noise, give Age Heating & Cooling a call at 208-603-2210. Our heating pros will get your furnace tuned up and double-check it’s operating correctly.

Your ductwork can also produce banging sounds when your furnace turns on, as the metal is expanding and contracting.

We recommend first inspecting your furnace’s air filter and installing a new one if it’s filthy. Next, double-check you don’t have too many vents shut in your home, as it can force air pressure out of balance.

If neither of these things repair the issue, your ductwork might be dirty or undersized, which will call for assistance from a skilled HVAC technician.

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 faltering blower fan motor, which will create an irritating buzzing noise when your furnace switches on. It might also mean there’s a problem with the capacitor or transformer. All three of these problems need assistance from a professional heating and cooling company like Age Heating & Cooling.

Furnace Making Knocking Noise

If your furnace is making knocking sounds, it’s often a symptom that an internal component is breaking down. 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 problems are often uncovered during yearly maintenance provided by a certified HVAC professional. So, while we’re at your house performing repairs, don’t forget to check with us about scheduling your maintenance appointment for the upcoming year.

Furnace Making Clicking Noise

A clicking sound might be the result of problems: worn bearings, gas valve troubles or ignition problems. All these problems need skilled help.

At Age Heating & Cooling, our experts are here to help you enjoy peaceful, energy-efficient comfort. If your furnace is louder than it typically is or producing strange sounds, contact us at 208-603-2210 to book an appointment right away.