As your furnace switches on and begins to heat your home, it’s common for it to produce some noise. These sounds, like the burners igniting and the blower whirring, are all part of the normal start-up procedures.
But there are several things you can do to make your furnace run more quietly this winter.
1. Book Regular Furnace Maintenance
Furnace maintenance is extremely important, as it keeps your manufacturer warranty in place. This helps protect you if something big malfunctions in your furnace during your warranty range.
It can also help our professionals uncover little issues that can make your furnace noisy. And potentially help you prevent a malfunction on the chilliest day of the year. The Indoor Air Quality Association reports that routine maintenance can reduce your probability of furnace malfunctions by up to 95%.
If small furnace problems go undetected, they may result in an issue in the future. By finding these troubles sooner, our professionals can get your furnace repaired before heating season is at its peak.
And, most important, professional 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 expenses, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
2. Routinely Replace Your Furnace’s Air Filter
Your air filter helps keep your home’s air fresh and clean. When it turns too clogged, it can make your furnace turn on and off too often. Called short cycling, this can cause your furnace to eat up additional gas and make it stop working more quickly.
Our recommendations for changing your furnace filter:
- Flat filter: Monthly
- Pleated filter: Every three months
You may have to replace your filter more regularly if you have allergies or pets.
3. Get in Touch with Forster Heating When Your Furnace is Producing Weird Noises
Some furnaces, often older ones, could be louder than others. But if you’re hearing extremely loud or odd noises, you should contact a heating and cooling company like Forster Heating for furnace repair in Auburn.
Here are a couple of noises to be on the lookout for, how to solve them and when to call a specialist.
Furnace Making Gurgling or Bubbling Noise
This noise happens more frequently with high-efficiency furnaces. That’s since they exhaust fumes dissimilarly older furnaces, and the process can produce some moisture. If your furnace is running into issues removing this water, it could make gurgling or bubbling sounds. You’ll want professional assistance 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 indicator when your furnace is making a banging sound. It could mean several things.
Haven’t scheduled maintenance this year and your furnace is producing a banging sound when beginning? Its burners might be dirty. Dirty burners can stall ignition, which results in gas accumulating within your furnace.
All that built-up gas can make a banging or booming sound when your furnace ultimately does ignite. But this is more than only an annoying noise, as the increased gas is exploding within your furnace. This can break your furnace’s heat exchanger and create a deadly carbon monoxide leak.
If you’ve overlooked regular maintenance for your furnace and you’re detecting this noise, give Forster Heating a shout at 530-885-8081. Our heating specialists will get your furnace tuned up and make sure it’s running accurately.
Your ductwork can also produce banging sounds when your furnace turns on, because the metal is expanding and contracting.
We recommend first inspecting your furnace’s air filter and getting a new one if it’s dirty. Next, double-check you don’t have too many vents shut in your residence, as it can force air pressure out of balance.
If neither of these things take care of the issue, your ductwork might 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 symptom there’s electrical troubles. This is most often seen with a faltering blower fan motor, which will produce an irritating buzzing noise when your furnace starts. It might also mean there’s an issue with the capacitor or transformer. All three of these troubles need help from an experienced heating and cooling company like Forster Heating.
Furnace Making Knocking Noise
If your furnace is making knocking sounds, it’s frequently a symptom that an internal piece is worn out. This might be anything from a bearing to a belt or the gas valve. It could also be an indication that your burners need to be cleaned.
These issues are frequently unearthed during regular maintenance performed by a certified HVAC tech. So, while we’re at your residence performing repairs, don’t forget to check with us about booking your maintenance appointment for next year.
Furnace Making Clicking Noise
A clicking sound could mean a couple of issues: worn bearings, gas valve issues or ignition troubles. All these issues need skilled help.
At Forster Heating, our experts are here to help you unwind in quiet, energy-efficient comfort. If your furnace is louder than it typically is or producing odd sounds, contact us at 530-885-8081 to book an appointment right away.