As your furnace starts up and prepares to warm up your residence, it’s expected for it to create some noise. These sounds, including the burners firing up and the blower operating, are all part of the usual start-up procedures.
But there are several things you can do to make your furnace less noisy this winter.
1. Schedule Yearly Furnace Maintenance
Furnace maintenance is highly 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 our pros uncover small issues that can make your furnace noisy. And potentially help you sidestep a breakdown on the coldest day of the year. The Indoor Air Quality Association reports that annual maintenance can decrease your probability of furnace meltdowns by up to 95%.
If minor furnace problems go ignored, they may cause trouble in the future. By finding these issues sooner, our techs can get your furnace repaired before heating season begins.
And most critical, specialized cleaning and lubrication of your furnace’s moving components can help make it more efficient. A properly maintained furnace could save up to 30% on your gas bills, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
2. Regularly Replace Your Furnace’s Air Filter
Your air filter helps keep your house’s air fresh and clean. When it gets too clogged, it can make your furnace turn on and off too frequently. Referred to as short cycling, this can cause your furnace to eat up additional fuel and make it break down faster.
Our recommendations for installing a new furnace filter:
- Flat filter: Monthly
- Pleated filter: Every three months
You might have to install a new filter more regularly if you have allergies or pets.
3. Get in Touch with Watts Electric & AC When Your Furnace Is Creating Weird Noises
Some furnaces, especially older ones, can make more noise than others. But if you’re hearing very loud or weird noises, it may be time to call a heating and cooling company like Watts Electric & AC for furnace repair in Columbia.
Here are a few noises to be on the lookout for, how to solve them and when to get in touch with a pro.
Furnace Making Gurgling or Bubbling Noise
This noise is more common with high-efficiency furnaces. That’s since they exhaust fumes differently than older furnaces, and the process can make some moisture. If your furnace is experiencing difficulties discharging this water, it may make gurgling or bubbling sounds. You’ll want professional support for this problem, since it can be created by a blocked drain pipe or clogged drain pan.
Furnace Making Banging Noise
It’s not a positive thing when your furnace is making a banging sound. It can mean a couple of things.
Haven’t requested maintenance recently and your furnace is producing a banging sound when starting? Its burners can be dirty. Dirty burners can hold up ignition, which leads gas to accumulate inside your furnace.
All that accumulated gas can make a banging or booming sound when your furnace eventually does ignite. But this is more than merely an irritating noise, since the built-up gas is erupting within your furnace. This can break your furnace’s heat exchanger and make a dangerous carbon monoxide leak.
If you’ve forgotten regular maintenance for your furnace and you’re noticing this noise, give Watts Electric & AC a call at 601-736-7362. Our heating professionals will get your furnace tuned up and double-check it’s running correctly.
Your ductwork can also produce banging sounds when your furnace turns on, because the metal is expanding and contracting.
We recommend first looking at your furnace’s air filter and getting a new one if it’s filthy. Next, double-check you don’t have too many vents sealed in your house, as it can force air pressure out of balance.
If neither of these things repair the sound, your ductwork may be dirty or undersized, which will call for assistance from a skilled HVAC specialist.
Furnace Making Humming or Buzzing Noise
If your furnace is buzzing or humming, it’s a symptom there’s an electrical issue. This is most frequently seen with a dying blower fan motor, which will create an irritating buzzing noise when your furnace starts. It might also mean there’s a problem with the capacitor or transformer. All three of these issues need help from a professional heating and cooling company like Watts Electric & AC.
Furnace Making Knocking Noise
If your furnace is making knocking sounds, it’s frequently a symptom that an internal part is worn out. This could be anything from a bearing to a belt or the gas valve. It can also be an indication that your burners need to be cleaned.
These issues are typically uncovered during regular maintenance done by a certified HVAC professional. So, while we’re at your home performing repairs, don’t forget to check with us about scheduling your maintenance appointment for the future.
Furnace Making Clicking Noise
A clicking sound might be the result of troubles: worn bearings, gas valve issues or ignition troubles. All these issues need skilled support.
At Watts Electric & AC, our experts are here to help you relax in peaceful, energy-efficient comfort. If your furnace is louder than it typically is or producing strange sounds, contact us at 601-736-7362 to book an appointment now.