As your furnace switches on and begins to heat your home, it’s typical for it to create some noise. These sounds, such as the burners igniting and the blower running, are all part of the usual start-up steps.

But there are a couple of steps you can do to make your furnace less noisy this winter.

1. Schedule Yearly Furnace Maintenance

Furnace maintenance is highly important, as it keeps your manufacturer warranty valid. This helps protect you if something huge stops working in your furnace during your warranty range.

It can also help our professionals spot minor issues that could make your furnace noisy. And maybe help you sidestep a breakdown on the chilliest day of the year. The Indoor Air Quality Association reports that annual maintenance can reduce your likelihood of furnace breakdowns by up to 95%.

If small furnace troubles go undetected, they may lead to trouble in the future. By discovering these troubles sooner, our technicians 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 parts can help make it more efficient. A well-maintained furnace could save up to 30% on your heating expenses, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

2. Routinely Change Your Furnace’s Air Filter

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

Our recommendations for changing your furnace filter:

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

You could have to change your filter more frequently if you have allergies or pets.

3. Get in Touch with Lakeside Heating & Air When Your Furnace Is Making Odd Noises

Some furnaces, particularly older ones, may be noisier than others. But if you’re noticing exceedingly loud or weird noises, it may be time to get in touch with a heating and cooling company like Lakeside Heating & Air for furnace repair in Chelan and Wenatchee.

Here are a few noises to keep an eye out 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 because they exhaust fumes dissimilarly than older furnaces, and the process can make some moisture. If your furnace is running into difficulties removing this water, it might make gurgling or bubbling sounds. You’ll need skilled support 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 great thing when your furnace is making a banging sound. It could mean several things.

Haven’t scheduled maintenance recently and your furnace is creating a banging sound when turning on? Its burners could be dirty. Dirty burners can stall ignition, which causes gas to accumulate in your furnace.

All that accumulated gas can make a banging or booming racket when your furnace finally does ignite. But this is more than just an irritating noise, as the built-up gas is erupting within your furnace. This can break your furnace’s heat exchanger and make a deadly carbon monoxide leak.

If you’ve forgotten regular maintenance for your furnace and you’re detecting this noise, give Lakeside Heating & Air a shout at 509-284-4265. Our heating professionals will get your furnace tuned up and make sure it’s running correctly.

Your ductwork can also make banging sounds when your furnace starts, since the metal is expanding and contracting.

We recommend first inspecting your furnace’s air filter and getting a new one if it’s filthy. Next, make sure you don’t have too many vents closed in your house, as it can force air pressure out of balance.

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

Furnace Making Humming or Buzzing Noise

If your furnace is buzzing or humming, it’s a flag there’s electrical troubles. This is most usually seen with a dying blower fan motor, which will create 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 issues need assistance from an experienced heating and cooling company like Lakeside Heating & Air.

Furnace Making Knocking Noise

If your furnace is making knocking sounds, it’s typically a symptom that an internal piece is going out. This might be anything from a bearing to a belt or the gas valve. It could also be a symptom that your burners need to be cleaned.

These issues are frequently uncovered during regular maintenance performed by a certified HVAC professional. So, while we’re at your house doing repairs, don’t forget to check with us about booking your maintenance appointment for next year.

Furnace Making Clicking Noise

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

At Lakeside Heating & Air, 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 509-284-4265 to schedule an appointment right away.