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 lighting and the blower running, are all part of the typical start-up steps.
But there are a few steps you can do to make your furnace run more quietly this winter.
1. Request Yearly Furnace Maintenance
Furnace maintenance is extremely important, since it keeps your manufacturer warranty in place. This helps protect you if something major stops working in your furnace during your warranty time.
It can also help our professionals find little issues that can make your furnace loud. And maybe help you prevent a meltdown on the most frigid day of the year. The Indoor Air Quality Association reports that annual maintenance can decrease your likelihood of furnace repairs by up to 95%.
If little furnace troubles go unnoticed, they may cause trouble in the future. By unearthing these issues sooner, our technicians can get your furnace repaired before heating season is in full swing.
And most important, 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 utility costs, 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 turns too filthy, 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 energy and make it wear out faster.
Our advice for replacing your furnace filter:
- Flat filter: Every month
- Pleated filter: Every three months
You could have to replace your filter more often if you have allergies or pets.
3. Contact Air Alliance Team When Your Furnace Is Making Strange Noises
Some furnaces, often older ones, might make more noise than others. But if you’re noticing extremely loud or odd noises, you might need to contact a heating and cooling company like Air Alliance Team for furnace repair in Ballwin and St. Charles.
Here are several noises to be looking for, how to solve 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 discharge fumes in another way than older furnaces, and the process can make some moisture. If your furnace is running into difficulties draining this water, it may make gurgling or bubbling sounds. You’ll require professional support for this issue, since it may 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 could mean a few things.
Haven’t requested maintenance recently and your furnace is creating a banging sound when starting? Its burners may be dirty. Dirty burners can delay ignition, which causes gas to accumulate within your furnace.
All that increased gas can cause a banging or booming sound when your furnace ultimately does ignite. But this is more than only an irritating noise, because the increased gas is igniting within your furnace. This can crack your furnace’s heat exchanger and create a dangerous carbon monoxide leak.
If you’ve overlooked regular tune-ups for your furnace and you’re detecting this noise, give Air Alliance Team a ring at 636-206-4584. Our heating pros will get your furnace tuned up and ensure it’s running correctly.
Your ductwork can also make banging sounds when your furnace switches on, as the metal is expanding and contracting.
We suggest first inspecting your furnace’s air filter and installing a new one if it’s clogged. Next, ensure you don’t have too many vents sealed in your home, as it can force air pressure out of balance.
If neither of these things repair the problem, your ductwork might be dirty or undersized, which will be a need for assistance from a professional HVAC tech.
Furnace Making Humming or Buzzing Noise
If your furnace is buzzing or humming, it’s a symptom there’s an electrical problem. This is most frequently seen with a faltering blower fan motor, which will produce an annoying buzzing noise when your furnace starts. It can also mean there’s an issue with the capacitor or transformer. All three of these issues need help from an experienced heating and cooling company like Air Alliance Team.
Furnace Making Knocking Noise
If your furnace is making knocking sounds, it’s typically a symptom that an internal piece is going out. This can be anything from a bearing to a belt or the gas valve. It may also be a symptom that your burners need cleaning.
These troubles are frequently uncovered during regular maintenance done by a certified HVAC professional. So, while we’re at your home working on repairs, don’t forget to ask 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 troubles need specialized help.
At Air Alliance Team, our experts 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 636-206-4584 to book an appointment now.