As your furnace turns on and gets ready to heat your home, it’s expected for it to produce some noise. These sounds, like the burners firing up and the blower running, are all part of the normal start-up steps.

But there are a few approaches you can do to make your furnace quieter this winter.

1. Schedule Annual Furnace Maintenance

Furnace maintenance is very important, as it keeps your manufacturer warranty in place. This helps defend you if something major stops working in your furnace during your warranty time.

It can also help our pros spot small issues that could make your furnace loud. And potentially help you prevent a malfunction on the most frigid day of the year. The Indoor Air Quality Association reports that routine maintenance can decrease your probability of furnace breakdowns by up to 95%.

If little furnace issues go ignored, they may cause trouble later on. By discovering these problems sooner, our technicians can get your furnace fixed before heating season begins.

And most important, pro cleaning and lubrication of your furnace’s moving components 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. Frequently Change Your Furnace’s Air Filter

Your air filter helps keep your house’s air fresh and clean. When it becomes too dirty, it can make your furnace turn on and off too frequently. Known as short cycling, this can cause your furnace to use additional gas and make it stop working faster.

Our recommendations for changing your furnace filter:

  • Flat filter: Every month
  • Pleated filter: Every three months

You could have to install a new filter more often if you have allergies or pets.

3. Contact Farris Heating & Air When Your Furnace Is Making Odd Noises

Some furnaces, especially older ones, can be noisier than others. But if you’re detecting exceedingly loud or weird noises, you should contact a heating and cooling company like Farris Heating & Air for furnace repair in Bartlesville.

Here are a couple of noises to be on the lookout for, how to fix them and when to contact a specialist.

Furnace Making Gurgling or Bubbling Noise

This noise happens more frequently with high-efficiency furnaces. That’s because they emit fumes differently than older furnaces, and the process can create some moisture. If your furnace is running into difficulties draining this water, it may make gurgling or bubbling sounds. You’ll need pro support for this trouble, 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 might 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 causes gas to accumulate in your furnace.

All that increased gas can make a banging or booming noise when your furnace finally does ignite. But this is more than just an irritating noise, as the built-up gas is igniting within your furnace. This can crack your furnace’s heat exchanger and create a dangerous carbon monoxide leak.

If you’ve ignored regular tune-ups for your furnace and you’re noticing this noise, give Farris Heating & Air a ring at 918-333-0376. Our heating professionals will get your furnace tuned up and ensure it’s operating correctly.

Your ductwork can also make banging sounds when your furnace starts, as the metal is expanding and contracting.

We recommend first looking at your furnace’s air filter and installing a new one if it’s clogged. 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 steps repair the issue, your ductwork could be dirty or undersized, which will require assistance from a professional HVAC technician.

Furnace Making Humming or Buzzing Noise

If your furnace is buzzing or humming, it’s a symptom there’s electrical troubles. This is most usually seen with a faltering blower fan motor, which will create an irritating buzzing noise when your furnace starts. It could also mean there’s trouble with the capacitor or transformer. All three of these troubles need assistance from a skilled heating and cooling company like Farris Heating & Air.

Furnace Making Knocking Noise

If your furnace is making knocking sounds, it’s usually a symptom that an internal piece is breaking down. This can be anything from a bearing to a belt or the gas valve. It might also be a symptom that your burners are dirty.

These problems are usually uncovered during regular maintenance performed by a certified HVAC technician. So, while we’re at your home performing repairs, don’t forget to ask us about scheduling your maintenance appointment for the future.

Furnace Making Clicking Noise

A clicking sound could be the result of things: worn bearings, gas valve troubles or ignition troubles. All these issues need professional help.

At Farris Heating & Air, our pros are here to help you enjoy peaceful, energy-efficient comfort. If your furnace is louder than it typically is or producing odd sounds, contact us at 918-333-0376 to get an appointment now.