As your furnace turns on and gets ready to heat your residence, it’s typical for it to create some noise. These sounds, like the burners lighting and the blower whirring, are all part of the normal start-up process.
But there are a few steps you can do to make your furnace less noisy this winter.
1. Schedule Annual Furnace Maintenance
Furnace maintenance is extremely important, since it keeps your manufacturer warranty valid. This helps protect you if something big stops working in your furnace during your warranty period.
It can also help our pros uncover little issues that could make your furnace annoying. And maybe help you sidestep a meltdown on the coldest day of the year. The Indoor Air Quality Association reports that routine maintenance can lower your probability of furnace repairs by up to 95%.
If little furnace issues go undetected, they may lead to trouble later on. By discovering these problems sooner, our pros can get your furnace repaired before heating season is in full swing.
And most critical, pro cleaning and lubrication of your furnace’s moving parts can help make it more efficient. A properly maintained furnace could save up to 30% on your energy costs, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
2. Frequently Change Your Furnace’s Air Filter
Your air filter helps keep your house’s air fresh and clean. When it becomes too clogged, it can make your furnace turn on and off too frequently. Called short cycling, this can cause your furnace to consume additional energy and make it stop working faster.
Our recommendations for changing your furnace filter:
- Flat filter: Every month
- Pleated filter: Every three months
You might have to change your filter more often if you have allergies or pets.
3. Get in Touch with Air Concepts of Middle Georgia When Your Furnace Is Creating Strange Noises
Some furnaces, particularly older ones, might be louder than others. But if you’re hearing extremely loud or odd noises, you might need to call a heating and cooling company like Air Concepts of Middle Georgia for furnace repair in Milledgeville and Middle Georgia.
Here are a couple of noises to be looking for, how to solve 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 than older furnaces, and the process can produce some moisture. If your furnace is having difficulties draining this water, it could make gurgling or bubbling sounds. You’ll need professional support for this problem, 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 can mean several things.
Haven’t requested maintenance recently and your furnace is making a banging sound when beginning? Its burners might be dirty. Dirty burners can delay ignition, which causes gas to accumulate in your furnace.
All that increased gas can create a banging or booming sound when your furnace eventually does ignite. But this is more than merely an irritating noise, as the increased gas is exploding within your furnace. This can crack your furnace’s heat exchanger and cause a life-threatening carbon monoxide leak.
If you’ve neglected regular tune-ups for your furnace and you’re noticing this noise, give Air Concepts of Middle Georgia a ring at 478-200-5689. Our heating pros will get your furnace tuned up and make sure it’s working correctly.
Your ductwork can also create banging sounds when your furnace turns on, since the metal is expanding and contracting.
We suggest first inspecting your furnace’s air filter and replacing it if it’s clogged. Next, double-check you don’t have too many vents sealed in your house, as it can throw off air pressure.
If neither of these steps repair the sound, 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 issue. This is most usually seen with a sputtering blower fan motor, which will create an irritating buzzing noise when your furnace switches on. It can also mean there’s a problem with the capacitor or transformer. All three of these troubles need assistance from a skilled heating and cooling company like Air Concepts of Middle Georgia.
Furnace Making Knocking Noise
If your furnace is making knocking sounds, it’s typically a symptom that an internal component is going out. This may be anything from a bearing to a belt or the gas valve. It can also be a symptom that your burners need cleaning.
These troubles are usually uncovered during annual maintenance provided by a certified HVAC professional. 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 issues. All these troubles need specialized support.
At Air Concepts of Middle Georgia, our pros are here to help you relax in peaceful, energy-efficient comfort. If your furnace is louder than it typically is or producing weird sounds, contact us at 478-200-5689 to schedule an appointment now.