As your furnace starts up and begins to warm up your home, it’s normal for it to make some noise. These sounds, like the burners firing up and the blower running, are all part of the usual start-up process.
But there are a couple of steps you can do to make your furnace less noisy this winter.
1. Schedule Annual Furnace Maintenance
Furnace maintenance is very important, because it keeps your manufacturer warranty in place. This helps shield you if something major stops working in your furnace during your warranty range.
It can also help our professionals discover small problems that could make your furnace annoying. And possibly help you sidestep a meltdown on the chilliest day of the year. The Indoor Air Quality Association reports that routine maintenance can lower your chance of furnace breakdowns by up to 95%.
If little furnace problems are left undetected, they could lead to an issue down the road. By discovering these problems in advance, our technicians can get your furnace taken care of 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 correctly maintained furnace could save up to 30% on your energy costs, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
2. Routinely Change Your Furnace’s Air Filter
Your air filter helps keep your home’s air fresh and clean. When it gets too dirty, it can make your furnace turn on and off too frequently. Referred to as short cycling, this can cause your furnace to use extra fuel and make it wear out more rapidly.
Our advice for replacing your furnace filter:
- Flat filter: Every month
- Pleated filter: Every three months
You might have to change your filter more frequently if you have allergies or pets.
3. Call Watts Electric & A/C Inc When Your Furnace is Creating Strange Noises
Some furnaces, especially older ones, can make more noise than others. But if you’re detecting very loud or odd noises, you should contact a heating and cooling company like Watts Electric & A/C Inc for furnace repair in Columbia.
Here are several noises to be on the lookout for, how to take care of them and when to contact a professional.
Furnace Making Gurgling or Bubbling Noise
This noise occurs more commonly with high-efficiency furnaces. That’s since they discharge fumes differently than older furnaces, and the process can produce some moisture. If your furnace is having difficulties discharging this water, it may make gurgling or bubbling sounds. You’ll require skilled help for this trouble, since it might be the result of by a blocked drain pipe or clogged drain pan.
Furnace Making Banging Noise
It’s not a good sign when your furnace is making a banging sound. It may mean a couple of things.
Haven’t scheduled maintenance lately and your furnace is creating a banging sound when starting? Its burners can be dirty. Dirty burners can delay ignition, which causes gas to accumulate within your furnace.
All that accumulated gas can cause a banging or booming sound when your furnace ultimately does ignite. But this is more than just an annoying noise, since the accumulated gas is igniting within your furnace. This can break your furnace’s heat exchanger and cause a dangerous carbon monoxide leak.
If you’ve forgotten regular tune-ups for your furnace and you’re detecting this noise, give Watts Electric & A/C Inc a call at 601-736-7362. Our heating professionals will get your furnace tuned up and make sure it’s operating correctly.
Your ductwork can also produce banging sounds when your furnace switches on, because the metal is expanding and contracting.
We suggest first looking at your furnace’s air filter and getting a new one if it’s dirty. Next, make sure you don’t have too many vents closed in your residence, as it can force air pressure out of balance.
If neither of these things take care of the problem, your ductwork may be dirty or undersized, which will call for assistance from a pro HVAC specialist.
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 often seen with a dying blower fan motor, which will produce a loud buzzing noise when your furnace starts. It could also mean there’s a problem with the capacitor or transformer. All three of these problems require help from a professional heating and cooling company like Watts Electric & A/C Inc.
Furnace Making Knocking Noise
If your furnace is making knocking sounds, it’s frequently an indication that an internal part is going out. This can be anything from a bearing to a belt or the gas valve. It might also be an indication that your burners need cleaning.
These problems are typically uncovered during annual maintenance done by a certified HVAC pro. So, while we’re at your home doing repairs, don’t forget to check with us about requesting your maintenance appointment for the future.
Furnace Making Clicking Noise
A clicking sound can mean a couple of things: worn bearings, gas valve troubles or ignition problems. All these problems require skilled help.
At Watts Electric & A/C Inc, our pros are here to help you unwind in quiet, energy-efficient comfort. If your furnace is louder than normal or creating weird sounds, contact us at 601-736-7362 to book an appointment today.