As your furnace turns on and begins to add warmth to your home, it’s typical for it to make some noise. These sounds, including the burners igniting and the blower whirring, are all part of the normal start-up steps.
But there are a few things you can do to make your furnace less noisy this winter.
1. Book Regular Furnace Maintenance
Furnace maintenance is very important, as it keeps your manufacturer warranty valid. This helps shield you if something big stops working in your furnace during your warranty period.
It can also help us spot little issues that could make your furnace loud. And possibly help you prevent a malfunction on the chilliest day of the year. The Indoor Air Quality Association reports that regular maintenance can lower your likelihood of furnace breakdowns by up to 95%.
If minor furnace troubles go ignored, they may result in trouble later on. By finding these problems sooner, our techs can get your furnace fixed before heating season is in full swing.
And most essential, professional cleaning and lubrication of your furnace’s moving parts can help make it more efficient. A correctly maintained furnace could save up to 30% on your utility bills, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
2. Routinely Install a New Furnace’s Air Filter
Your air filter helps keep your home’s air fresh and clean. When it becomes too clogged, it can make your furnace turn on and off too often. Known as short cycling, this can cause your furnace to consume additional fuel and make it wear out faster.
Our suggestions for changing your furnace filter:
- Flat filter: Monthly
- Pleated filter: Every three months
You might have to get a new filter more regularly if you have allergies or pets.
3. Contact Paniccia Heating & Cooling When Your Furnace Is Producing Odd Noises
Some furnaces, especially older ones, could make more noise than others. But if you’re hearing very loud or weird noises, you should contact a heating and cooling company like Paniccia Heating & Cooling for furnace repair in Michigan City.
Here are several noises to keep an eye out for, how to repair them and when to contact a professional.
Furnace Making Gurgling or Bubbling Noise
This noise occurs more commonly with high-efficiency furnaces. That’s because they exhaust fumes dissimilarly than older furnaces, and the process can make some moisture. If your furnace is experiencing difficulties discharging this water, it might make gurgling or bubbling sounds. You’ll want skilled support for this issue, since it could be created by a blocked drain pipe or clogged drain pan.
Furnace Making Banging Noise
It’s not a great thing when your furnace is making a banging sound. It might mean a couple of things.
Haven’t had maintenance done recently and your furnace is creating a banging sound when beginning? Its burners may be dirty. Dirty burners can stall ignition, which results in gas accumulating in your furnace.
All that accumulated gas can create a banging or booming sound when your furnace ultimately does ignite. But this is more than only an irritating noise, as the accumulated gas is erupting within your furnace. This can crack your furnace’s heat exchanger and make a life-threatening carbon monoxide leak.
If you’ve ignored regular tune-ups for your furnace and you’re detecting this noise, give Paniccia Heating & Cooling a shout at 219-872-2198. Our heating professionals will get your furnace tuned up and make sure it’s working correctly.
Your ductwork can also make banging sounds when your furnace starts, since the metal is expanding and contracting.
We recommend first looking at your furnace’s air filter and getting a new one if it’s filthy. Next, ensure you don’t have too many vents closed in your residence, as it can throw off air pressure.
If neither of these steps repair the issue, your ductwork could be dirty or undersized, which will require assistance from a professional HVAC specialist.
Furnace Making Humming or Buzzing Noise
If your furnace is buzzing or humming, it’s a flag there’s electrical troubles. This is most often seen with a dying blower fan motor, which will produce an irritating buzzing noise when your furnace turns on. It may also mean there’s a problem with the capacitor or transformer. All three of these troubles need support from a skilled heating and cooling company like Paniccia Heating & Cooling.
Furnace Making Knocking Noise
If your furnace is making knocking sounds, it’s frequently a symptom that an internal part 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 are dirty.
These troubles are often uncovered during annual maintenance provided by a certified HVAC tech. So, while we’re at your residence performing repairs, don’t forget to inquire about scheduling your maintenance appointment for the future.
Furnace Making Clicking Noise
A clicking sound can be the result of troubles: worn bearings, gas valve problems or ignition problems. All these issues need professional help.
At Paniccia Heating & Cooling, our pros are here to help you enjoy peaceful, energy-efficient comfort. If your furnace is louder than normal or producing odd sounds, contact us at 219-872-2198 to request an appointment today.