As your furnace turns on and prepares to warm up your home, it’s normal 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 steps.
But there are a few approaches you can do to make your furnace quieter this winter.
1. Book Yearly Furnace Maintenance
Furnace maintenance is highly important, because it keeps your manufacturer warranty valid. This helps defend you if something major goes wrong with your furnace during your warranty time.
It can also help our pros find minor problems that could make your furnace loud. And possibly help you avoid a meltdown on the most frigid day of the year. The Indoor Air Quality Association reports that annual maintenance can lower your probability of furnace breakdowns by up to 95%.
If small furnace troubles go undetected, they might lead to trouble later on. By discovering these issues in advance, our technicians can get your furnace repaired before heating season is at its peak.
And, most essential, specialized 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 energy expenses, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
2. Frequently Put in a New Furnace’s Air Filter
Your air filter helps keep your home’s air fresh and clean. When it becomes too dirty, it can make your furnace turn on and off more than it should. Known as short cycling, this can cause your furnace to eat up additional energy and make it break down more quickly.
Our suggestions for changing your furnace filter:
- Flat filter: Every month
- Pleated filter: Every three months
You may have to change your filter more regularly if you have allergies or pets.
3. Contact Wolfe & Sons Heating and Cooling When Your Furnace is Creating Weird Noises
Some furnaces, especially older ones, might be louder than others. But if you’re detecting very loud or weird noises, you might need to call a heating and cooling company like Wolfe & Sons Heating and Cooling for furnace repair in Columbus.
Here are several noises to keep an eye out for, how to fix them and when to call a specialist.
Furnace Making Gurgling or Bubbling Noise
This noise is more common with high-efficiency furnaces. That’s because they exhaust fumes dissimilarly older furnaces, and the process can produce some moisture. If your furnace is running into troubles discharging this water, it can make gurgling or bubbling sounds. You’ll want pro help for this trouble, since it could be the result of by a blocked drain pipe or clogged drain pan.
Furnace Making Banging Noise
It’s not a good sign when your furnace is making a banging sound. It can mean several things.
Haven’t had maintenance done lately and your furnace is making a banging sound when turning on? Its burners can be dirty. Dirty burners can hold up ignition, which causes gas to accumulate within your furnace.
All that increased gas can cause a banging or booming sound when your furnace eventually does ignite. But this is more than merely an annoying noise, since the increased gas is igniting within your furnace. This can break your furnace’s heat exchanger and create a life-threatening carbon monoxide leak.
If you’ve overlooked annual maintenance for your furnace and you’re noticing this noise, give Wolfe & Sons Heating and Cooling a ring at 614-451-0846. Our heating specialists will get your furnace tuned up and ensure it’s running accurately.
Your ductwork can also make banging sounds when your furnace starts, because the metal is expanding and contracting.
We suggest first looking at your furnace’s air filter and replacing it if it’s filthy. Next, ensure you don’t have too many vents shut in your home, as it can make air pressure uneven.
If neither of these things take care of the problem, your ductwork may be dirty or undersized, which will be a need for assistance from a pro HVAC specialist.
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 often seen with a faltering blower fan motor, which will create an irritating buzzing noise when your furnace begins to heat. It could also mean there’s trouble with the capacitor or transformer. All three of these issues call for help from a skilled heating and cooling company like Wolfe & Sons Heating and Cooling.
Furnace Making Knocking Noise
If your furnace is making knocking sounds, it’s typically an indication that an internal component is going out. This can be anything from a bearing to a belt or the gas valve. It could also be a sign that your burners need cleaning.
These problems are typically uncovered during annual maintenance done by a certified HVAC pro. 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 may mean a couple of troubles: worn bearings, gas valve troubles or ignition problems. All these troubles call for professional help.
At Wolfe & Sons Heating and Cooling, our pros are here to help you unwind in quiet, energy-efficient comfort. If your furnace is louder than it typically is or making strange sounds, contact us at 614-451-0846 to schedule an appointment right away.