As your furnace turns on and gets ready to add warmth to your house, it’s common for it to produce some noise. These sounds, such as the burners lighting and the blower operating, are all part of the typical start-up steps.
But there are a couple of approaches you can do to make your furnace less noisy this winter.
1. Schedule Regular Furnace Maintenance
Furnace maintenance is very important, as it keeps your manufacturer warranty valid. This helps protect you if something major stops working in your furnace during your warranty range.
It can also help us find little issues that could make your furnace annoying. And maybe help you sidestep a breakdown on the coldest day of the year. The Indoor Air Quality Association reports that routine maintenance can lower your chance of furnace malfunctions by up to 95%.
If minor furnace issues go unnoticed, they may result in trouble later on. By uncovering these problems sooner, our techs can get your furnace repaired 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 costs, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
2. Regularly Change Your Furnace’s Air Filter
Your air filter helps keep your home’s air fresh and clean. When it gets too filthy, it can make your furnace turn on and off too frequently. Called short cycling, this can cause your furnace to use additional fuel 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 change your filter more often if you have allergies or pets.
3. Contact Covington Air Systems When Your Furnace Is Producing Odd Noises
Some furnaces, particularly older ones, might be noisier than others. But if you’re detecting exceedingly loud or strange noises, you should call a heating and cooling company like Covington Air Systems for furnace repair in Covington.
Here are a couple of noises to keep an eye out for, how to take care of them and when to contact a pro.
Furnace Making Gurgling or Bubbling Noise
This noise occurs more commonly with high-efficiency furnaces. That’s because they discharge fumes in another way than older furnaces, and the process can produce some moisture. If your furnace is having difficulties discharging this water, it could make gurgling or bubbling sounds. You’ll require skilled support for this trouble, since it might 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 may mean a few 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 hold up ignition, which causes gas to accumulate inside your furnace.
All that accumulated gas can cause a banging or booming noise when your furnace ultimately does ignite. But this is more than only an irritating noise, since the increased gas is exploding within your furnace. This can damage your furnace’s heat exchanger and create a life-threatening carbon monoxide leak.
If you’ve neglected regular tune-ups for your furnace and you’re hearing this noise, give Covington Air Systems a shout at (770) 462-5319. Our heating specialists will get your furnace tuned up and ensure it’s working 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 replacing it if it’s dirty. Next, make sure you don’t have too many vents sealed in your residence, as it can force air pressure out of balance.
If neither of these methods repair the issue, your ductwork may be dirty or undersized, which will be a need for assistance from a skilled HVAC specialist.
Furnace Making Humming or Buzzing Noise
If your furnace is buzzing or humming, it’s a sign there’s electrical troubles. This is most often seen with a dying blower fan motor, which will produce an irritating buzzing noise when your furnace turns on. It may also mean there’s trouble with the capacitor or transformer. All three of these troubles need support from an experienced heating and cooling company like Covington Air Systems.
Furnace Making Knocking Noise
If your furnace is making knocking sounds, it’s often a symptom that an internal piece is going out. This can be anything from a bearing to a belt or the gas valve. It might also be a symptom that your burners are dirty.
These troubles are frequently uncovered during annual maintenance performed by a certified HVAC tech. So, while we’re at your home working on repairs, don’t forget to inquire about scheduling your maintenance appointment for next year.
Furnace Making Clicking Noise
A clicking sound may be the result of problems: worn bearings, gas valve troubles or ignition problems. All these issues need skilled support.
At Covington Air Systems, our specialists are here to help you relax in peaceful, energy-efficient comfort. If your furnace is louder than it typically is or producing odd sounds, contact us at (770) 462-5319 to schedule an appointment now.