As your furnace turns on and gets ready to warm up your house, it’s normal for it to make some noise. These sounds, like the burners firing up and the blower whirring, are all part of the typical start-up steps.
But there are several steps you can do to make your furnace run more quietly this winter.
1. Book Yearly Furnace Maintenance
Furnace maintenance is highly important, since it keeps your manufacturer warranty ongoing. This helps defend you if something major malfunctions in your furnace during your warranty time.
It can also help our professionals discover minor troubles that might make your furnace noisy. And maybe help you prevent a meltdown on the chilliest day of the year. The Indoor Air Quality Association reports that annual maintenance can decrease your chance of furnace repairs by up to 95%.
If small furnace issues go undetected, they might result in an issue down the road. By unearthing these issues in advance, our pros can get your furnace fixed before heating season is at its peak.
And, most critical, pro 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 Replace Your Furnace’s Air Filter
Your air filter helps keep your house’s air fresh and clean. When it turns too clogged, it can make your furnace turn on and off too often. Called short cycling, this can cause your furnace to eat up additional gas and make it break down more quickly.
Our suggestions for installing a new furnace filter:
- Flat filter: Monthly
- Pleated filter: Every three months
You may have to replace your filter more often if you have allergies or pets.
3. Contact McFadden Heating & Cooling When Your Furnace is Making Weird Noises
Some furnaces, often older ones, may be noisier than others. But if you’re noticing very loud or weird noises, you might need to get in touch with a heating and cooling company like McFadden Heating & Cooling for furnace repair in Dresden.
Here are a few noises to be on the lookout for, how to fix them and when to contact a professional.
Furnace Making Gurgling or Bubbling Noise
This noise occurs more commonly with high-efficiency furnaces. That’s because they emit fumes in another way than older furnaces, and the process can produce some moisture. If your furnace is having troubles removing this water, it can make gurgling or bubbling sounds. You’ll want professional help for this trouble, since it could be caused by a blocked drain pipe or clogged drain pan.
Furnace Making Banging Noise
It’s not a great indicator when your furnace is making a banging sound. It might mean a couple of things.
Haven’t had maintenance done lately 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 create a banging or booming racket when your furnace ultimately does ignite. But this is more than just an annoying noise, since the built-up gas is exploding within your furnace. This can damage your furnace’s heat exchanger and cause a life-threatening carbon monoxide leak.
If you’ve neglected regular tune-ups for your furnace and you’re noticing this noise, give McFadden Heating & Cooling a call at 1-866-781-0111. Our heating professionals will get your furnace tuned up and double-check it’s working safely.
Your ductwork can also produce banging sounds when your furnace switches on, as the metal is expanding and contracting.
We advise first looking at your furnace’s air filter and replacing it if it’s filthy. Next, make sure you don’t have too many vents closed in your house, as it can throw off air pressure.
If neither of these steps take care of the problem, your ductwork could be dirty or undersized, which will be a need for assistance from a professional 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 sputtering blower fan motor, which will produce an annoying buzzing noise when your furnace starts. It can also mean there’s an issue with the capacitor or transformer. All three of these troubles need support from a professional heating and cooling company like McFadden Heating & Cooling.
Furnace Making Knocking Noise
If your furnace is making knocking sounds, it’s often an indication that an internal component is dying. This could be anything from a bearing to a belt or the gas valve. It might also be an indication that your burners need to be cleaned.
These issues are often unearthed during yearly maintenance performed by a certified HVAC tech. So, while we’re at your home working on repairs, don’t forget to ask us about booking your maintenance appointment for next year.
Furnace Making Clicking Noise
A clicking sound may be created by troubles: worn bearings, gas valve problems or ignition issues. All these issues call for specialized assistance.
At McFadden Heating & Cooling, our pros are here to help you enjoy tranquil, energy-efficient comfort. If your furnace is louder than it typically is or producing weird sounds, contact us at 1-866-781-0111 to schedule an appointment now.