As your furnace turns on and begins to warm up your house, it’s common for it to produce some noise. These sounds, such as the burners firing up and the blower operating, are all part of the typical start-up procedures.
But there are a few steps you can do to make your furnace quieter this winter.
1. Schedule Annual Furnace Maintenance
Furnace maintenance is highly important, since it keeps your manufacturer warranty in place. This helps protect you if something major stops working in your furnace during your warranty range.
It can also help our pros uncover small issues that might make your furnace annoying. And maybe help you avoid 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 meltdowns by up to 95%.
If little furnace troubles go ignored, they may lead to trouble later on. By uncovering these issues sooner, our techs can get your furnace fixed before heating season begins.
And most critical, specialized 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 utility costs, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
2. Regularly Put in a New 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 too often. Known as short cycling, this can cause your furnace to eat up additional energy and make it stop working faster.
Our advice for installing a new furnace filter:
- Flat filter: Once a month
- Pleated filter: Every three months
You may have to install a new filter more frequently if you have allergies or pets.
3. Get in Touch with Central Heating & Plumbing When Your Furnace Is Producing Weird Noises
Some furnaces, especially older ones, might be noisier than others. But if you’re detecting exceedingly loud or weird noises, you should get in touch with a heating and cooling company like Central Heating & Plumbing for furnace repair in New Castle.
Here are several noises to keep an eye out for, how to take care of them and when to contact a pro.
Furnace Making Gurgling or Bubbling Noise
This noise happens more frequently with high-efficiency furnaces. That’s since they discharge fumes in another way than older furnaces, and the process can make some moisture. If your furnace is running into difficulties discharging this water, it may make gurgling or bubbling sounds. You’ll want professional 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 can mean a couple of things.
Haven’t scheduled maintenance recently and your furnace is creating a banging sound when turning on? Its burners might be dirty. Dirty burners can hold up ignition, which causes gas to accumulate inside your furnace.
All that built-up gas can make a banging or booming racket when your furnace eventually does ignite. But this is more than merely an irritating noise, because the built-up gas is exploding within your furnace. This can break your furnace’s heat exchanger and cause a deadly carbon monoxide leak.
If you’ve forgotten regular service for your furnace and you’re noticing this noise, give Central Heating & Plumbing a shout at 724-401-1843. Our heating professionals will get your furnace tuned up and double-check it’s running correctly.
Your ductwork can also create banging sounds when your furnace switches on, as the metal is expanding and contracting.
We advise first checking your furnace’s air filter and replacing it if it’s clogged. Next, make sure you don’t have too many vents closed in your home, as it can make air pressure uneven.
If neither of these things repair the problem, your ductwork might 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 symptom there’s an electrical issue. This is most frequently seen with a sputtering blower fan motor, which will create an annoying buzzing noise when your furnace begins to heat. It can also mean there’s trouble with the capacitor or transformer. All three of these issues need support from an experienced heating and cooling company like Central Heating & Plumbing.
Furnace Making Knocking Noise
If your furnace is making knocking sounds, it’s often a symptom that an internal piece is going out. This can be anything from a bearing to a belt or the gas valve. It could also be an indication that your burners need cleaning.
These troubles are often uncovered during annual maintenance performed by a certified HVAC pro. So, while we’re at your house doing repairs, don’t forget to check with us about booking your maintenance appointment for next year.
Furnace Making Clicking Noise
A clicking sound may be the result of things: worn bearings, gas valve troubles or ignition troubles. All these problems need skilled assistance.
At Central Heating & Plumbing, our experts are here to help you enjoy peaceful, energy-efficient comfort. If your furnace is louder than normal or producing odd sounds, contact us at 724-401-1843 to get an appointment right away.