As your furnace turns on and begins to warm up your house, it’s common for it to make some noise. These sounds, such as the burners igniting and the blower operating, are all part of the normal start-up procedures.
But there are a few approaches you can do to make your furnace run more quietly this winter.
1. Schedule Yearly Furnace Maintenance
Furnace maintenance is very important, since it keeps your manufacturer warranty valid. This helps protect you if something big stops working in your furnace during your warranty range.
It can also help our pros discover minor issues that can make your furnace loud. And potentially help you avoid a breakdown on the most frigid day of the year. The Indoor Air Quality Association reports that annual maintenance can lower your chance of furnace breakdowns by up to 95%.
If small furnace troubles go undetected, they may result in trouble down the road. By finding these problems sooner, our techs can get your furnace repaired before heating season is at its peak.
And most essential, pro cleaning and lubrication of your furnace’s moving pieces can help make it more efficient. A correctly maintained furnace could save up to 30% on your energy costs, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
2. Regularly Change Your Furnace’s Air Filter
Your air filter helps keep your home’s air fresh and clean. When it gets too filthy, it can make your furnace turn on and off more than it should. Known as short cycling, this can cause your furnace to use additional fuel and make it stop working faster.
Our suggestions for changing your furnace filter:
- Flat filter: Once a month
- Pleated filter: Every three months
You may have to get a new filter more frequently if you have allergies or pets.
3. Contact Thurston Heating & Air Conditioning When Your Furnace Is Making Odd Noises
Some furnaces, often older ones, can make more noise than others. But if you’re hearing exceedingly loud or odd noises, it may be time to call a heating and cooling company like Thurston Heating & Air Conditioning for furnace repair in Kearney.
Here are a couple of noises to be on the lookout for, how to take care of them and when to contact a pro.
Furnace Making Gurgling or Bubbling Noise
This noise occurs more commonly with high-efficiency furnaces. That’s since they discharge fumes in another way than older furnaces, and the process can produce some moisture. If your furnace is having difficulties removing this water, it might make gurgling or bubbling sounds. You’ll need 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 good thing when your furnace is making a banging sound. It may mean a few things.
Haven’t requested maintenance recently and your furnace is producing a banging sound when starting? Its burners might be dirty. Dirty burners can hold up ignition, which results in gas accumulating within your furnace.
All that built-up gas can cause a banging or booming sound when your furnace ultimately does ignite. But this is more than just an irritating noise, because the increased gas is igniting within your furnace. This can break your furnace’s heat exchanger and cause a deadly carbon monoxide leak.
If you’ve overlooked regular service for your furnace and you’re detecting this noise, give Thurston Heating & Air Conditioning a shout at 308-624-3485. Our heating professionals will get your furnace tuned up and double-check it’s operating correctly.
Your ductwork can also produce banging sounds when your furnace switches on, because the metal is expanding and contracting.
We recommend first looking at your furnace’s air filter and installing a new one if it’s dirty. Next, ensure you don’t have too many vents sealed in your residence, as it can throw off air pressure.
If neither of these methods repair the problem, your ductwork could be dirty or undersized, which will call for assistance from a professional HVAC technician.
Furnace Making Humming or Buzzing Noise
If your furnace is buzzing or humming, it’s a flag there’s an electrical problem. This is most usually seen with a sputtering blower fan motor, which will make a loud buzzing noise when your furnace starts. It might also mean there’s trouble with the capacitor or transformer. All three of these problems need support from an experienced 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 might also be a sign that your burners need cleaning.
These troubles are typically uncovered during regular maintenance performed by a certified HVAC tech. So, while we’re at your residence doing repairs, don’t forget to check with us about booking your maintenance appointment for the upcoming year.
Furnace Making Clicking Noise
A clicking sound can be the result of problems: worn bearings, gas valve troubles or ignition problems. All these issues need specialized support.
At Thurston Heating & Air Conditioning, our specialists are here to help you unwind in peaceful, energy-efficient comfort. If your furnace is louder than it typically is or producing strange sounds, contact us at 308-624-3485 to book an appointment now.