As your furnace turns on and begins to heat your house, it’s expected for it to create some noise. These sounds, like the burners lighting and the blower operating, are all part of the normal start-up procedures.
But there are several things you can do to make your furnace quieter this winter.
1. Request Annual Furnace Maintenance
Furnace maintenance is highly important, as it keeps your manufacturer warranty ongoing. This helps shield you if something major stops working in your furnace during your warranty time.
It can also help us uncover small issues that could make your furnace annoying. And potentially help you avoid a breakdown on the most frigid day of the year. The Indoor Air Quality Association reports that annual maintenance can decrease your likelihood of furnace meltdowns by up to 95%.
If small furnace troubles go unnoticed, they may cause trouble in the future. By unearthing these issues sooner, our techs can get your furnace taken care of before heating season is underway.
And most important, specialized 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 energy 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 home’s air fresh and clean. When it turns too clogged, it can make your furnace turn on and off too frequently. Known as short cycling, this can cause your furnace to consume additional fuel and make it break down faster.
Our advice for installing a new furnace filter:
- Flat filter: Once a month
- Pleated filter: Every three months
You may have to get a new filter more often if you have allergies or pets.
3. Call Pure Comfort Heating and Air Conditioning When Your Furnace Is Producing Odd Noises
Some furnaces, particularly older ones, could be noisier than others. But if you’re hearing exceedingly loud or strange noises, you might need to get in touch with a heating and cooling company like Pure Comfort Heating and Air Conditioning for furnace repair in Streamwood.
Here are a few noises to be looking for, how to solve them and when to contact a professional.
Furnace Making Gurgling or Bubbling Noise
This noise is more common with high-efficiency furnaces. That’s since they discharge fumes dissimilarly than older furnaces, and the process can produce some moisture. If your furnace is experiencing difficulties removing this water, it could make gurgling or bubbling sounds. You’ll want experienced support for this issue, since it can 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 can mean several things.
Haven’t requested maintenance recently and your furnace is producing a banging sound when beginning? Its burners can be dirty. Dirty burners can delay ignition, which results in gas accumulating inside your furnace.
All that built-up gas can make a banging or booming noise when your furnace finally does ignite. But this is more than only an irritating noise, because the accumulated gas is erupting within your furnace. This can crack your furnace’s heat exchanger and make a deadly carbon monoxide leak.
If you’ve ignored regular maintenance for your furnace and you’re noticing this noise, give Pure Comfort Heating and Air Conditioning a ring at 630-313-2509. Our heating specialists will get your furnace tuned up and make sure it’s operating correctly.
Your ductwork can also produce banging sounds when your furnace turns on, since the metal is expanding and contracting.
We advise 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 shut in your home, as it can throw off air pressure.
If neither of these steps repair the problem, your ductwork might be dirty or undersized, which will call for assistance from a professional HVAC tech.
Furnace Making Humming or Buzzing Noise
If your furnace is buzzing or humming, it’s a flag there’s electrical troubles. This is most frequently seen with a sputtering blower fan motor, which will create an annoying buzzing noise when your furnace turns on. It could also mean there’s an issue with the capacitor or transformer. All three of these troubles need assistance from an experienced heating and cooling company like Pure Comfort Heating and Air Conditioning.
Furnace Making Knocking Noise
If your furnace is making knocking sounds, it’s usually a symptom that an internal piece is dying. This could be anything from a bearing to a belt or the gas valve. It could also be a symptom that your burners are dirty.
These troubles are usually uncovered during annual maintenance provided by a certified HVAC technician. So, while we’re at your residence doing repairs, don’t forget to inquire about requesting your maintenance appointment for the upcoming year.
Furnace Making Clicking Noise
A clicking sound might be the result of issues: worn bearings, gas valve troubles or ignition troubles. All these problems need specialized help.
At Pure Comfort Heating and Air Conditioning, our experts are here to help you unwind in peaceful, energy-efficient comfort. If your furnace is louder than it usually is or producing odd sounds, contact us at 630-313-2509 to schedule an appointment right away.