As your furnace starts up and prepares to add warmth to your house, it’s common for it to produce some noise. These sounds, including the burners igniting and the blower operating, are all part of the normal start-up process.
But there are a couple of steps you can do to make your furnace quieter this winter.
1. Request Annual Furnace Maintenance
Furnace maintenance is very important, because it keeps your manufacturer warranty valid. This helps defend you if something major stops working in your furnace during your warranty range.
It can also help our professionals uncover little issues that might make your furnace noisy. And maybe help you avoid a breakdown on the coldest day of the year. The Indoor Air Quality Association reports that routine maintenance can reduce your likelihood of furnace meltdowns by up to 95%.
If little furnace problems go undetected, they may result in trouble in the future. By uncovering these troubles sooner, our technicians can get your furnace fixed before heating season is in full swing.
And most essential, 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. Routinely Put in a New Furnace’s Air Filter
Your air filter helps keep your home’s air fresh and clean. When it gets too clogged, it can make your furnace turn on and off more than it should. Referred to as short cycling, this can cause your furnace to eat up additional energy and make it wear out faster.
Our suggestions for installing a new furnace filter:
- Flat filter: Every month
- Pleated filter: Every three months
You could have to get a new filter more frequently if you have allergies or pets.
3. Call Vogts Heating & Air When Your Furnace Is Making Strange Noises
Some furnaces, particularly older ones, might make more noise than others. But if you’re detecting extremely loud or odd noises, you should get in touch with a heating and cooling company like Vogts Heating & Air for furnace repair in Pocatello.
Here are a few noises to keep an eye out for, how to solve them and when to contact a pro.
Furnace Making Gurgling or Bubbling Noise
This noise happens more frequently with high-efficiency furnaces. That’s due to the fact they emit fumes dissimilarly than older furnaces, and the process can create some moisture. If your furnace is having difficulties draining this water, it may make gurgling or bubbling sounds. You’ll need experienced support for this problem, since it can 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 can mean a couple of things.
Haven’t scheduled maintenance recently and your furnace is producing a banging sound when beginning? Its burners can be dirty. Dirty burners can delay ignition, which results in gas accumulating within your furnace.
All that increased gas can make a banging or booming racket when your furnace finally does ignite. But this is more than just an irritating noise, since the built-up 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 overlooked regular maintenance for your furnace and you’re noticing this noise, give Vogts Heating & Air a shout at 208-621-0129. Our heating specialists will get your furnace tuned up and make sure it’s running correctly.
Your ductwork can also create banging sounds when your furnace turns on, since the metal is expanding and contracting.
We advise first inspecting your furnace’s air filter and installing a new one if it’s filthy. Next, double-check you don’t have too many vents sealed in your home, as it can throw off air pressure.
If neither of these methods repair the sound, your ductwork could be dirty or undersized, which will call for assistance from a professional HVAC specialist.
Furnace Making Humming or Buzzing Noise
If your furnace is buzzing or humming, it’s a sign there’s electrical troubles. This is most frequently seen with a dying blower fan motor, which will make a loud buzzing noise when your furnace begins to heat. It might also mean there’s an issue with the capacitor or transformer. All three of these issues need support from a skilled heating and cooling company like Vogts Heating & Air.
Furnace Making Knocking Noise
If your furnace is making knocking sounds, it’s often a symptom that an internal piece is dying. This could be anything from a bearing to a belt or the gas valve. It might also be a sign that your burners need to be cleaned.
These issues are frequently uncovered during yearly maintenance performed by a certified HVAC professional. So, while we’re at your home performing repairs, don’t forget to check with us about requesting your maintenance appointment for next year.
Furnace Making Clicking Noise
A clicking sound can be the result of things: worn bearings, gas valve issues or ignition issues. All these troubles need skilled support.
At Vogts Heating & Air, our professionals 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 208-621-0129 to schedule an appointment today.