As your furnace starts up and begins to warm up your house, it’s typical for it to produce some noise. These sounds, such as the burners lighting and the blower whirring, are all part of the typical start-up process.
But there are several things you can do to make your furnace quieter this winter.
1. Schedule Yearly Furnace Maintenance
Furnace maintenance is extremely important, since it keeps your manufacturer warranty in place. This helps defend you if something huge stops working in your furnace during your warranty time.
It can also help us find minor issues that could make your furnace annoying. And maybe help you sidestep a breakdown on the chilliest day of the year. The Indoor Air Quality Association reports that routine maintenance can decrease your probability of furnace meltdowns by up to 95%.
If minor furnace problems go unnoticed, they may lead to trouble later on. By unearthing these issues sooner, our professionals can get your furnace repaired before heating season begins.
And most important, professional 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 heating bills, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
2. Frequently Install a New Furnace’s Air Filter
Your air filter helps keep your house’s air fresh and clean. When it gets too filthy, it can make your furnace turn on and off too often. Called short cycling, this can cause your furnace to use additional fuel and make it wear out faster.
Our recommendations for replacing your furnace filter:
- Flat filter: Every month
- Pleated filter: Every three months
You could have to replace your filter more regularly if you have allergies or pets.
3. Get in Touch with Thurston Heating & Air Conditioning When Your Furnace Is Producing Strange Noises
Some furnaces, often older ones, could be noisier than others. But if you’re noticing extremely loud or weird noises, you should call a heating and cooling company like Thurston Heating & Air Conditioning for furnace repair in Kearney.
Here are a couple of noises to be looking for, how to take care of them and when to call a specialist.
Furnace Making Gurgling or Bubbling Noise
This noise occurs more commonly with high-efficiency furnaces. That’s due to the fact they discharge fumes dissimilarly than older furnaces, and the process can make some moisture. If your furnace is having difficulties draining this water, it may make gurgling or bubbling sounds. You’ll want professional support for this trouble, since it might 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 can mean several things.
Haven’t requested maintenance recently and your furnace is creating a banging sound when beginning? Its burners could be dirty. Dirty burners can hold up ignition, which results in gas accumulating in your furnace.
All that increased gas can create a banging or booming noise when your furnace eventually does ignite. But this is more than only an irritating noise, since the built-up gas is igniting within your furnace. This can break 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 hearing this noise, give Thurston Heating & Air Conditioning a shout at 308-624-3485. Our heating specialists will get your furnace tuned up and make sure it’s working correctly.
Your ductwork can also make banging sounds when your furnace turns on, as the metal is expanding and contracting.
We recommend first looking at your furnace’s air filter and replacing it if it’s clogged. Next, make sure you don’t have too many vents shut in your house, as it can throw off air pressure.
If neither of these things repair the issue, your ductwork could be dirty or undersized, which will call for assistance from a pro HVAC tech.
Furnace Making Humming or Buzzing Noise
If your furnace is buzzing or humming, it’s a sign there’s an electrical issue. This is most frequently seen with a faltering blower fan motor, which will create an irritating buzzing noise when your furnace switches on. It could also mean there’s trouble with the capacitor or transformer. All three of these problems need support from a skilled heating and cooling company like Thurston Heating & Air Conditioning.
Furnace Making Knocking Noise
If your furnace is making knocking sounds, it’s usually a symptom that an internal piece is going out. This can be anything from a bearing to a belt or the gas valve. It can also be a symptom that your burners are dirty.
These issues are often uncovered during annual maintenance done by a certified HVAC tech. So, while we’re at your residence doing repairs, don’t forget to check with us about requesting your maintenance appointment for the future.
Furnace Making Clicking Noise
A clicking sound can be the result of things: worn bearings, gas valve issues or ignition problems. All these troubles need skilled support.
At Thurston Heating & Air Conditioning, our pros are here to help you relax in peaceful, energy-efficient comfort. If your furnace is louder than it usually is or producing strange sounds, contact us at 308-624-3485 to request an appointment now.