As your furnace turns on and gets ready to heat your home, it’s common for it to produce some noise. These sounds, including the burners firing up and the blower operating, are all part of the typical start-up procedures.
But there are a few approaches you can do to make your furnace run more quietly this winter.
1. Book Regular Furnace Maintenance
Furnace maintenance is highly important, because it keeps your manufacturer warranty ongoing. This helps protect you if something huge stops working in your furnace during your warranty period.
It can also help our pros find small issues that could make your furnace annoying. And potentially help you avoid a malfunction on the most frigid day of the year. The Indoor Air Quality Association reports that regular maintenance can lower your probability of furnace meltdowns by up to 95%.
If minor furnace issues go unnoticed, they may lead to trouble in the future. By finding these problems sooner, our technicians can get your furnace fixed before heating season begins.
And most critical, pro 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 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 residence’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 use additional energy and make it break down faster.
Our advice for installing a new furnace filter:
- Flat filter: Monthly
- Pleated filter: Every three months
You might have to replace your filter more often if you have allergies or pets.
3. Call Watts Electric & AC When Your Furnace Is Creating Odd Noises
Some furnaces, often older ones, may be louder than others. But if you’re detecting very loud or odd noises, it may be time to get in touch with a heating and cooling company like Watts Electric & AC for furnace repair in Columbia.
Here are a couple of noises to be looking for, how to solve them and when to contact a specialist.
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 draining this water, it could make gurgling or bubbling sounds. You’ll require pro 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 good thing when your furnace is making a banging sound. It could mean a few things.
Haven’t requested maintenance recently and your furnace is creating a banging sound when beginning? Its burners can be dirty. Dirty burners can hold up ignition, which causes gas to accumulate inside your furnace.
All that built-up gas can create a banging or booming sound when your furnace ultimately does ignite. But this is more than only an irritating noise, because the built-up gas is exploding within your furnace. This can break your furnace’s heat exchanger and cause a life-threatening carbon monoxide leak.
If you’ve forgotten regular maintenance for your furnace and you’re detecting this noise, give Watts Electric & AC a ring at 601-736-7362. Our heating pros will get your furnace tuned up and double-check it’s running correctly.
Your ductwork can also produce banging sounds when your furnace starts, as the metal is expanding and contracting.
We suggest first looking at your furnace’s air filter and installing a new one if it’s dirty. Next, make sure you don’t have too many vents sealed in your home, as it can throw off air pressure.
If neither of these steps repair the issue, your ductwork could be dirty or undersized, which will require assistance from a professional HVAC specialist.
Furnace Making Humming or Buzzing Noise
If your furnace is buzzing or humming, it’s a sign there’s an electrical issue. This is most frequently seen with a sputtering blower fan motor, which will produce an irritating buzzing noise when your furnace starts. It can also mean there’s trouble with the capacitor or transformer. All three of these problems need assistance from an experienced heating and cooling company like Watts Electric & AC.
Furnace Making Knocking Noise
If your furnace is making knocking sounds, it’s often a symptom that an internal part is dying. This might be anything from a bearing to a belt or the gas valve. It might also be a sign that your burners are dirty.
These issues are frequently uncovered during regular maintenance done by a certified HVAC technician. So, while we’re at your house doing repairs, don’t forget to ask us about booking your maintenance appointment for next year.
Furnace Making Clicking Noise
A clicking sound might be the result of troubles: worn bearings, gas valve troubles or ignition issues. All these issues need skilled assistance.
At Watts Electric & AC, our specialists are here to help you enjoy peaceful, energy-efficient comfort. If your furnace is louder than it usually is or producing weird sounds, contact us at 601-736-7362 to schedule an appointment now.