As your furnace switches on and prepares to heat your house, it’s normal for it to produce some noise. These sounds, including the burners firing up and the blower running, are all part of the typical start-up process.
But there are a couple of approaches you can do to make your furnace less noisy this winter.
1. Schedule Yearly Furnace Maintenance
Furnace maintenance is very important, as it keeps your manufacturer warranty ongoing. This helps protect you if something huge goes wrong with your furnace during your warranty range.
It can also help our professionals discover minor issues that might make your furnace annoying. And potentially help you prevent a breakdown on the chilliest day of the year. The Indoor Air Quality Association reports that annual maintenance can lower your chance of furnace meltdowns by up to 95%.
If small furnace problems are left unnoticed, they could lead to trouble down the road. By unearthing these problems in advance, our pros can get your furnace fixed before heating season begins.
And, most important, specialized 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 energy costs, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
2. Regularly Change Your Furnace’s Air Filter
Your air filter helps keep your house’s air fresh and clean. When it gets too filthy, it can make your furnace turn on and off too frequently. Referred to as short cycling, this can cause your furnace to use more gas and make it break down more rapidly.
Our advice for replacing your furnace filter:
- Flat filter: Once a month
- Pleated filter: Every three months
You may have to install a new filter more regularly if you have allergies or pets.
3. Call AC Sales When Your Furnace is Making Strange Noises
Some furnaces, particularly older ones, could be noisier than others. But if you’re hearing extremely loud or odd noises, it may be time to call a heating and cooling company like AC Sales for furnace repair in Lafayette.
Here are several noises to be on the lookout for, how to repair them and when to get in touch with a professional.
Furnace Making Gurgling or Bubbling Noise
This noise occurs more commonly with high-efficiency furnaces. That’s due to the fact they exhaust fumes in another way than older furnaces, and the process can create some moisture. If your furnace is experiencing difficulties removing this water, it may make gurgling or bubbling sounds. You’ll need experienced assistance for this problem, since it might be the result of by a blocked drain pipe or clogged drain pan.
Furnace Making Banging Noise
It’s not a great sign when your furnace is making a banging sound. It can mean a few things.
Haven’t requested maintenance lately and your furnace is producing a banging sound when beginning? Its burners can be dirty. Dirty burners can hold up ignition, which leads gas to accumulate within 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 annoying noise, as the accumulated gas is erupting inside your furnace. This can crack your furnace’s heat exchanger and make a deadly carbon monoxide leak.
If you’ve overlooked yearly tune-ups for your furnace and you’re hearing this noise, give AC Sales a call at (337) 234-2345. Our heating professionals will get your furnace tuned up and double-check it’s working properly.
Your ductwork can also produce banging sounds when your furnace switches on, since the metal is expanding and contracting.
We recommend first checking your furnace’s air filter and replacing it if it’s dirty. Next, make sure you don’t have too many vents closed in your home, as it can force air pressure out of balance.
If neither of these steps fix the problem, your ductwork could be dirty or undersized, which will call for assistance from a professional HVAC tech.
Furnace Making Humming or Buzzing Noise
If your furnace is buzzing or humming, it’s a symptom there’s an electrical problem. This is most usually seen with a sputtering blower fan motor, which will make an irritating buzzing noise when your furnace turns on. It could also mean there’s trouble with the capacitor or transformer. All three of these troubles require support from a skilled heating and cooling company like AC Sales.
Furnace Making Knocking Noise
If your furnace is making knocking sounds, it’s usually a symptom that an internal piece is dying. This might be anything from a bearing to a belt or the gas valve. It might also be an indication that your burners need to be cleaned.
These problems are usually unearthed during annual maintenance provided by a certified HVAC professional. So, while we’re at your home doing repairs, don’t forget to inquire about scheduling your maintenance appointment for the upcoming year.
Furnace Making Clicking Noise
A clicking sound can be created by issues: worn bearings, gas valve issues or ignition issues. All these troubles require skilled support.
At AC Sales, our professionals are here to help you relax in peaceful, energy-efficient comfort. If your furnace is louder than it typically is or creating weird sounds, contact us at (337) 234-2345 to get an appointment right away.
