As your furnace switches on and gets ready to warm up your home, it’s expected for it to make some noise. These sounds, like the burners igniting and the blower running, are all part of the typical start-up steps.
But there are a few steps you can do to make your furnace run more quietly this winter.
1. Request Yearly Furnace Maintenance
Furnace maintenance is highly important, as it keeps your manufacturer warranty valid. This helps protect you if something huge malfunctions in your furnace during your warranty time.
It can also help our professionals discover minor troubles that might make your furnace noisy. And potentially help you avoid a malfunction on the coldest day of the year. The Indoor Air Quality Association reports that regular maintenance can reduce your probability of furnace repairs by up to 95%.
If small furnace problems are left unnoticed, they might result in trouble in the future. By unearthing these troubles sooner, our professionals can get your furnace fixed before heating season is in full swing.
And, most important, professional cleaning and lubrication of your furnace’s moving pieces can help make it more efficient. A properly maintained furnace could save up to 30% on your utility costs, 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 turns too filthy, it can make your furnace turn on and off more than it should. Known as short cycling, this can cause your furnace to eat up extra gas and make it break down more rapidly.
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 regularly if you have allergies or pets.
3. Get in Touch with Air Temperature Control When Your Furnace is Making Odd Noises
Some furnaces, particularly older ones, could make more noise than others. But if you’re hearing very loud or strange noises, you should call a heating and cooling company like Air Temperature Control for furnace repair in Macon.
Here are several noises to be on the lookout for, how to fix them and when to call a specialist.
Furnace Making Gurgling or Bubbling Noise
This noise occurs more commonly with high-efficiency furnaces. That’s since they discharge fumes dissimilarly older furnaces, and the process can produce some moisture. If your furnace is having difficulties removing this water, it might make gurgling or bubbling sounds. You’ll require professional 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 good indicator when your furnace is making a banging sound. It might mean a few things.
Haven’t had maintenance done recently and your furnace is producing a banging sound when turning on? Its burners might be dirty. Dirty burners can delay ignition, which results in gas accumulating in your furnace.
All that built-up gas can make a banging or booming racket when your furnace ultimately does ignite. But this is more than just an irritating noise, as the built-up gas is exploding within your furnace. This can crack your furnace’s heat exchanger and make a deadly carbon monoxide leak.
If you’ve overlooked regular maintenance for your furnace and you’re detecting this noise, give Air Temperature Control a call at 478-202-3170. Our heating pros will get your furnace tuned up and make sure it’s running safely.
Your ductwork can also make banging sounds when your furnace turns on, since the metal is expanding and contracting.
We recommend first looking at your furnace’s air filter and getting a new one if it’s dirty. Next, double-check you don’t have too many vents sealed in your house, as it can force air pressure out of balance.
If neither of these things fix the issue, your ductwork may be dirty or undersized, which will require assistance from a skilled HVAC technician.
Furnace Making Humming or Buzzing Noise
If your furnace is buzzing or humming, it’s a sign there’s an electrical problem. This is most usually seen with a faltering blower fan motor, which will create an annoying buzzing noise when your furnace switches on. It can also mean there’s trouble with the capacitor or transformer. All three of these issues require help from an experienced heating and cooling company like Air Temperature Control.
Furnace Making Knocking Noise
If your furnace is making knocking sounds, it’s usually a sign that an internal piece is breaking down. This can be anything from a bearing to a belt or the gas valve. It can also be a sign that your burners are dirty.
These troubles are typically caught during annual maintenance done by a certified HVAC professional. So, while we’re at your house doing repairs, don’t forget to ask us about scheduling your maintenance appointment for next year.
Furnace Making Clicking Noise
A clicking sound might be created by things: worn bearings, gas valve troubles or ignition issues. All these problems require skilled help.
At Air Temperature Control, our specialists are here to help you unwind in quiet, energy-efficient comfort. If your furnace is louder than it typically is or creating strange sounds, contact us at 478-202-3170 to get an appointment right away.