As your furnace switches on and prepares to add warmth to your residence, it’s expected for it to make some noise. These sounds, such as the burners lighting and the blower running, are all part of the typical start-up procedures.
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 highly important, as it keeps your manufacturer warranty valid. This helps protect you if something huge stops working in your furnace during your warranty period.
It can also help our professionals uncover minor issues that can make your furnace loud. And potentially help you prevent a malfunction on the coldest day of the year. The Indoor Air Quality Association reports that annual maintenance can reduce your chance of furnace meltdowns by up to 95%.
If minor furnace troubles go ignored, they may cause trouble later on. By uncovering these troubles sooner, our technicians can get your furnace taken care of before heating season begins.
And most critical, pro cleaning and lubrication of your furnace’s moving pieces can help make it more efficient. A well-maintained furnace could save up to 30% on your energy costs, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
2. Frequently Change Your Furnace’s Air Filter
Your air filter helps keep your residence’s air fresh and clean. When it becomes too dirty, it can make your furnace turn on and off more than it should. Referred to as short cycling, this can cause your furnace to consume additional energy and make it break down faster.
Our advice for replacing your furnace filter:
- Flat filter: Once a month
- Pleated filter: Every three months
You might have to replace your filter more often if you have allergies or pets.
3. Get in Touch with Freed Heating & Air Conditioning When Your Furnace Is Producing Strange Noises
Some furnaces, particularly older ones, could be louder than others. But if you’re noticing very loud or weird noises, you should get in touch with a heating and cooling company like Freed Heating & Air Conditioning for furnace repair in Moline.
Here are a couple of noises to be looking for, how to fix them and when to contact a pro.
Furnace Making Gurgling or Bubbling Noise
This noise occurs more commonly with high-efficiency furnaces. That’s due to the fact they exhaust fumes in another way than older furnaces, and the process can produce some moisture. If your furnace is experiencing difficulties removing this water, it may make gurgling or bubbling sounds. You’ll want professional 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 might mean several things.
Haven’t requested maintenance recently and your furnace is producing a banging sound when turning on? Its burners can be dirty. Dirty burners can delay ignition, which leads gas to accumulate inside your furnace.
All that accumulated gas can create a banging or booming racket when your furnace eventually does ignite. But this is more than merely an irritating noise, as the increased gas is exploding within your furnace. This can break your furnace’s heat exchanger and make a dangerous carbon monoxide leak.
If you’ve overlooked regular maintenance for your furnace and you’re hearing this noise, give Freed Heating & Air Conditioning a shout at 309-323-9584. Our heating specialists will get your furnace tuned up and ensure it’s running correctly.
Your ductwork can also produce banging sounds when your furnace turns on, as the metal is expanding and contracting.
We advise first checking your furnace’s air filter and getting a new one if it’s dirty. Next, make sure you don’t have too many vents sealed in your home, as it can force air pressure out of balance.
If neither of these methods repair the issue, your ductwork could 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 symptom there’s an electrical issue. This is most usually seen with a faltering blower fan motor, which will make an irritating buzzing noise when your furnace begins to heat. It could also mean there’s a problem with the capacitor or transformer. All three of these troubles need assistance from a skilled heating and cooling company like Freed Heating & Air Conditioning.
Furnace Making Knocking Noise
If your furnace is making knocking sounds, it’s typically a symptom that an internal component is breaking down. This can be anything from a bearing to a belt or the gas valve. It could also be an indication that your burners are dirty.
These troubles are typically uncovered during yearly maintenance done by a certified HVAC technician. So, while we’re at your house performing repairs, don’t forget to ask us about requesting your maintenance appointment for the upcoming year.
Furnace Making Clicking Noise
A clicking sound can be the result of things: worn bearings, gas valve troubles or ignition troubles. All these issues need professional support.
At Freed Heating & Air Conditioning, our professionals are here to help you relax in peaceful, energy-efficient comfort. If your furnace is louder than normal or producing strange sounds, contact us at 309-323-9584 to book an appointment right away.