As your furnace turns on and prepares to add warmth to your home, it’s normal for it to create some noise. These sounds, such as the burners igniting and the blower running, are all part of the normal start-up process.
But there are a couple of steps you can do to make your furnace quieter this winter.
1. Request Yearly Furnace Maintenance
Furnace maintenance is extremely important, since it keeps your manufacturer warranty ongoing. This helps shield you if something huge stops working in your furnace during your warranty period.
It can also help our professionals uncover small issues that might make your furnace noisy. And maybe help you avoid a breakdown on the most frigid day of the year. The Indoor Air Quality Association reports that routine maintenance can decrease your likelihood of furnace breakdowns by up to 95%.
If minor furnace problems go unnoticed, they may result in trouble later on. By uncovering these issues sooner, our pros can get your furnace taken care of before heating season begins.
And most important, specialized cleaning and lubrication of your furnace’s moving components 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 Put in a New 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 more than it should. Known as short cycling, this can cause your furnace to use additional gas and make it wear out faster.
Our recommendations for changing your furnace filter:
- Flat filter: Once a month
- Pleated filter: Every three months
You could have to replace your filter more often if you have allergies or pets.
3. Contact Lakeside Heating & Air When Your Furnace Is Making Strange Noises
Some furnaces, often older ones, can be louder than others. But if you’re noticing extremely loud or odd noises, you should contact a heating and cooling company like Lakeside Heating & Air for furnace repair in Chelan and Wenatchee.
Here are a few noises to be on the lookout for, how to fix them and when to call a professional.
Furnace Making Gurgling or Bubbling Noise
This noise happens more frequently with high-efficiency furnaces. That’s since they exhaust fumes dissimilarly than older furnaces, and the process can create some moisture. If your furnace is having difficulties draining this water, it may make gurgling or bubbling sounds. You’ll want professional} 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 can mean several things.
Haven’t had maintenance done recently and your furnace is creating a banging sound when turning on? Its burners might be dirty. Dirty burners can hold up ignition, which causes gas to accumulate in your furnace.
All that increased gas can make a banging or booming racket when your furnace ultimately} does ignite. But this is more than merely an irritating noise, because the increased gas is igniting within 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 hearing this noise, give Lakeside Heating & Air a shout at 509-284-4265. Our heating specialists will get your furnace tuned up and ensure it’s working correctly.
Your ductwork can also produce banging sounds when your furnace starts, as the metal is expanding and contracting.
We recommend first looking at your furnace’s air filter and replacing it if it’s clogged. 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 steps repair the issue, your ductwork might be dirty or undersized, which will be a need for 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 issue. This is most usually 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 a problem with the capacitor or transformer. All three of these problems need help from a skilled heating and cooling company like Lakeside Heating & Air.
Furnace Making Knocking Noise
If your furnace is making knocking sounds, it’s usually a symptom that an internal piece is breaking down. This could be anything from a bearing to a belt or the gas valve. It might also be an indication that your burners need cleaning.
These issues are usually uncovered during yearly maintenance performed by a certified HVAC pro. So, while we’re at your residence performing repairs, don’t forget to inquire about scheduling your maintenance appointment for the future.
Furnace Making Clicking Noise
A clicking sound can be the result of troubles: worn bearings, gas valve problems or ignition problems. All these troubles need pro support.
At Lakeside Heating & Air, our pros are here to help you enjoy peaceful, energy-efficient comfort. If your furnace is louder than it usually is or producing strange sounds, contact us at 509-284-4265 to get an appointment now.