As your furnace switches on and gets ready to warm up your residence, it’s common for it to produce some noise. These sounds, like the burners lighting and the blower running, are all part of the normal start-up steps.
But there are a couple of steps you can do to make your furnace quieter this winter.
1. Schedule Yearly Furnace Maintenance
Furnace maintenance is extremely important, as it keeps your manufacturer warranty in place. This helps shield you if something big malfunctions in your furnace during your warranty time.
It can also help us discover minor issues that might make your furnace noisy. And possibly help you avoid a malfunction on the most frigid day of the year. The Indoor Air Quality Association reports that routine maintenance can decrease your chance of furnace repairs by up to 95%.
If little furnace problems keep on being unnoticed, they can cause a breakdown in the future. By discovering these problems sooner, our technicians can get your furnace repaired before heating season begins.
And, most essential, specialized cleaning and lubrication of your furnace’s moving components 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. Routinely Install a New Furnace’s Air Filter
Your air filter helps keep your house’s air fresh and clean. When it gets too dirty, it can make your furnace turn on and off too frequently. Referred to as short cycling, this can cause your furnace to use additional gas and make it break down more quickly.
Our advice for changing your furnace filter:
- Flat filter: Once a month
- Pleated filter: Every three months
You might have to change your filter more frequently if you have allergies or pets.
3. Call AW Heating & Air Conditioning When Your Furnace is Creating Odd Noises
Some furnaces, especially older ones, could be louder than others. But if you’re detecting exceedingly loud or weird noises, you should call a heating and cooling company like AW Heating & Air Conditioning for furnace repair in Lincoln.
Here are several noises to keep an eye out for, how to fix them and when to call a professional.
Furnace Making Gurgling or Bubbling Noise
This noise occurs more commonly with high-efficiency furnaces. That’s since they emit fumes in another way than older furnaces, and the process can make some moisture. If your furnace is running into issues draining this water, it could make gurgling or bubbling sounds. You’ll need experienced support for this problem, since it can be caused 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 scheduled maintenance recently and your furnace is producing a banging sound when beginning? Its burners can be dirty. Dirty burners can hold up ignition, which causes gas to accumulate in your furnace.
All that increased gas can cause a banging or booming racket when your furnace ultimately does ignite. But this is more than merely an annoying noise, since the built-up gas is erupting inside your furnace. This can crack your furnace’s heat exchanger and create a life-threatening carbon monoxide leak.
If you’ve ignored annual service for your furnace and you’re hearing this noise, give AW Heating & Air Conditioning a call at 402-438-7992. Our heating specialists will get your furnace tuned up and double-check it’s operating properly.
Your ductwork can also make banging sounds when your furnace turns on, since 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, ensure you don’t have too many vents sealed in your house, as it can throw off air pressure.
If neither of these steps fix the sound, your ductwork could be dirty or undersized, which will be a need for assistance from a professional HVAC technician.
Furnace Making Humming or Buzzing Noise
If your furnace is buzzing or humming, it’s a flag there’s an electrical issue. This is most often seen with a faltering blower fan motor, which will create an annoying buzzing noise when your furnace turns on. It could also mean there’s a problem with the capacitor or transformer. All three of these problems call for help from an experienced heating and cooling company like AW Heating & Air Conditioning.
Furnace Making Knocking Noise
If your furnace is making knocking sounds, it’s frequently an indication that an internal component is going out. This might be anything from a bearing to a belt or the gas valve. It may also be an indication that your burners need cleaning.
These issues are often uncovered during yearly maintenance performed by a certified HVAC professional. So, while we’re at your residence performing repairs, don’t forget to check with us about scheduling your maintenance appointment for the future.
Furnace Making Clicking Noise
A clicking sound could be the result of things: worn bearings, gas valve troubles or ignition issues. All these issues require specialized support.
At AW Heating & Air Conditioning, our experts are here to help you unwind in peaceful, energy-efficient comfort. If your furnace is louder than it usually is or making strange sounds, contact us at 402-438-7992 to book an appointment right away.