As your furnace starts up and prepares to add warmth to your home, it’s normal for it to produce some noise. These sounds, including the burners firing up and the blower whirring, are all part of the usual start-up steps.
But there are a few things you can do to make your furnace run more quietly this winter.
1. Request Annual Furnace Maintenance
Furnace maintenance is extremely important, since it keeps your manufacturer warranty in place. This helps defend you if something major stops working in your furnace during your warranty range.
It can also help our professionals find little troubles that could make your furnace noisy. And possibly help you sidestep a meltdown on the chilliest day of the year. The Indoor Air Quality Association reports that routine maintenance can reduce your probability of furnace breakdowns by up to 95%.
If small furnace issues are left unnoticed, they might lead to a breakdown later on. By discovering these problems early, our technicians can get your furnace fixed before heating season begins.
And, most important, specialized cleaning and lubrication of your furnace’s moving parts can help make it more efficient. A properly maintained furnace could save up to 30% on your energy costs, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
2. Frequently Install a New Furnace’s Air Filter
Your air filter helps keep your home’s air fresh and clean. When it turns too clogged, it can make your furnace turn on and off more than it should. Called short cycling, this can cause your furnace to eat up additional gas and make it break down more rapidly.
Our recommendations for installing a new furnace filter:
- Flat filter: Once a month
- Pleated filter: Every three months
You may have to replace your filter more regularly if you have allergies or pets.
3. Get in Touch with Farris Heating & Air When Your Furnace is Creating Weird Noises
Some furnaces, particularly older ones, could be louder than others. But if you’re detecting exceedingly loud or strange noises, you might need to contact a heating and cooling company like Farris Heating & Air for furnace repair in Bartlesville.
Here are a couple of noises to be looking for, how to repair them and when to get in touch with a specialist.
Furnace Making Gurgling or Bubbling Noise
This noise happens more frequently with high-efficiency furnaces. That’s because they exhaust fumes in another way than older furnaces, and the process can create some moisture. If your furnace is running into troubles discharging this water, it may make gurgling or bubbling sounds. You’ll need skilled support for this issue, since it could be created by a blocked drain pipe or clogged drain pan.
Furnace Making Banging Noise
It’s not a positive indicator when your furnace is making a banging sound. It might mean a couple of things.
Haven’t scheduled maintenance recently and your furnace is producing a banging sound when turning on? Its burners could be dirty. Dirty burners can hold up ignition, which causes gas to accumulate inside your furnace.
All that increased gas can create a banging or booming sound when your furnace ultimately does ignite. But this is more than merely an irritating noise, as the increased gas is igniting within your furnace. This can damage your furnace’s heat exchanger and cause a life-threatening carbon monoxide leak.
If you’ve ignored annual service for your furnace and you’re noticing this noise, give Farris Heating & Air a call at 918-333-0376. Our heating professionals will get your furnace tuned up and make sure it’s running accurately.
Your ductwork can also make banging sounds when your furnace turns on, as the metal is expanding and contracting.
We recommend first inspecting your furnace’s air filter and replacing it if it’s filthy. Next, make sure you don’t have too many vents closed in your house, as it can force air pressure out of balance.
If neither of these things repair the issue, your ductwork may be dirty or undersized, which will require assistance from a skilled HVAC specialist.
Furnace Making Humming or Buzzing Noise
If your furnace is buzzing or humming, it’s a flag there’s electrical troubles. This is most often seen with a dying blower fan motor, which will produce a loud 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 problems 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 often a sign that an internal component is going out. This could be anything from a bearing to a belt or the gas valve. It could also be a symptom that your burners need to be cleaned.
These issues are frequently unearthed during regular maintenance done by a certified HVAC technician. So, while we’re at your home working on repairs, don’t forget to inquire about requesting your maintenance appointment for the upcoming year.
Furnace Making Clicking Noise
A clicking sound might be the result of issues: worn bearings, gas valve problems or ignition troubles. All these issues need professional assistance.
At Farris Heating & Air, our specialists are here to help you enjoy peaceful, energy-efficient comfort. If your furnace is louder than normal or making odd sounds, contact us at 918-333-0376 to get an appointment right away.