As your furnace starts up and prepares to warm up your residence, it’s common for it to produce some noise. These sounds, like the burners lighting and the blower operating, are all part of the usual start-up process.
But there are a few things you can do to make your furnace quieter this winter.
1. Schedule Yearly Furnace Maintenance
Furnace maintenance is very important, because it keeps your manufacturer warranty ongoing. This helps defend you if something huge stops working in your furnace during your warranty period.
It can also help us uncover little issues that can make your furnace annoying. And potentially help you prevent a meltdown on the most frigid day of the year. The Indoor Air Quality Association reports that routine maintenance can lower your likelihood of furnace malfunctions by up to 95%.
If small furnace issues go unnoticed, they may lead to trouble later on. By discovering these issues sooner, our techs can get your furnace repaired before heating season is underway.
And most critical, specialized cleaning and lubrication of your furnace’s moving components 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. Regularly Change Your Furnace’s Air Filter
Your air filter helps keep your residence’s air fresh and clean. When it turns too dirty, it can make your furnace turn on and off more than it should. Referred to as short cycling, this can cause your furnace to eat up additional fuel and make it wear out faster.
Our recommendations for replacing your furnace filter:
- Flat filter: Every month
- Pleated filter: Every three months
You might have to get a new filter more regularly if you have allergies or pets.
3. Contact Vogts Heating & Air When Your Furnace Is Making Odd Noises
Some furnaces, often older ones, can make more noise than others. But if you’re hearing very loud or weird noises, it may be time to get in touch with a heating and cooling company like Vogts Heating & Air for furnace repair in Pocatello.
Here are a few noises to be on the lookout for, how to fix them and when to contact a professional.
Furnace Making Gurgling or Bubbling Noise
This noise happens more frequently with high-efficiency furnaces. That’s because they emit fumes differently than older furnaces, and the process can produce some moisture. If your furnace is having difficulties draining this water, it might make gurgling or bubbling sounds. You’ll want professional} support for this trouble, since it could be created by a blocked drain pipe or clogged drain pan.
Furnace Making Banging Noise
It’s not a good 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 creating a banging sound when starting? Its burners may be dirty. Dirty burners can hold up ignition, which causes gas to accumulate within your furnace.
All that built-up gas can create a banging or booming noise when your furnace eventually} does ignite. But this is more than merely an irritating noise, since the accumulated gas is igniting within your furnace. This can crack your furnace’s heat exchanger and cause a life-threatening carbon monoxide leak.
If you’ve forgotten regular service for your furnace and you’re detecting this noise, give Vogts Heating & Air a shout at 208-621-0129. Our heating specialists will get your furnace tuned up and ensure it’s running correctly.
Your ductwork can also produce banging sounds when your furnace turns on, 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 dirty. Next, make sure you don’t have too many vents closed in your residence, as it can force air pressure out of balance.
If neither of these things repair the issue, your ductwork could be dirty or undersized, which will call for assistance from a professional HVAC technician.
Furnace Making Humming or Buzzing Noise
If your furnace is buzzing or humming, it’s a symptom there’s electrical troubles. This is most usually seen with a dying blower fan motor, which will create an irritating buzzing noise when your furnace begins to heat. It might also mean there’s a problem with the capacitor or transformer. All three of these troubles need support from an experienced heating and cooling company like Vogts Heating & Air.
Furnace Making Knocking Noise
If your furnace is making knocking sounds, it’s typically a symptom that an internal component is going out. This can be anything from a bearing to a belt or the gas valve. It may also be a sign that your burners need to be cleaned.
These problems are frequently uncovered during regular maintenance performed by a certified HVAC pro. So, while we’re at your residence doing repairs, don’t forget to ask us about scheduling your maintenance appointment for the upcoming year.
Furnace Making Clicking Noise
A clicking sound might be the result of troubles: worn bearings, gas valve issues or ignition issues. All these troubles need pro assistance.
At Vogts Heating & Air, our pros are here to help you enjoy peaceful, energy-efficient comfort. If your furnace is louder than normal or producing strange sounds, contact us at 208-621-0129 to schedule an appointment today.