As your furnace turns on and prepares to heat your house, it’s common for it to create some noise. These sounds, like the burners igniting and the blower whirring, are all part of the typical start-up procedures.
But there are several approaches you can do to make your furnace less noisy this winter.
1. Schedule Annual Furnace Maintenance
Furnace maintenance is highly important, as it keeps your manufacturer warranty in place. This helps defend you if something major stops working in your furnace during your warranty range.
It can also help our professionals discover minor issues that could make your furnace noisy. And maybe help you avoid a breakdown on the chilliest day of the year. The Indoor Air Quality Association reports that routine maintenance can lower your chance of furnace repairs by up to 95%.
If little furnace troubles go undetected, they may result in trouble later on. By unearthing these troubles sooner, our technicians can get your furnace taken care of before heating season is underway.
And most critical, specialized cleaning and lubrication of your furnace’s moving pieces can help make it more efficient. A correctly maintained furnace could save up to 30% on your heating expenses, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
2. Routinely Change Your Furnace’s Air Filter
Your air filter helps keep your residence’s air fresh and clean. When it becomes too filthy, it can make your furnace turn on and off too often. Called short cycling, this can cause your furnace to consume additional gas and make it break down faster.
Our recommendations for installing a new furnace filter:
- Flat filter: Every month
- Pleated filter: Every three months
You might have to replace your filter more often if you have allergies or pets.
3. Get in Touch with Van Haaften Plumbing & Heating When Your Furnace Is Producing Strange Noises
Some furnaces, especially older ones, could be louder than others. But if you’re hearing extremely loud or strange noises, it may be time to call a heating and cooling company like Van Haaften Plumbing & Heating for furnace repair in Pella.
Here are several noises to keep an eye out for, how to take care of them and when to get in touch with a specialist.
Furnace Making Gurgling or Bubbling Noise
This noise occurs more commonly with high-efficiency furnaces. That’s since they exhaust fumes dissimilarly than older furnaces, and the process can make some moisture. If your furnace is experiencing difficulties removing this water, it could make gurgling or bubbling sounds. You’ll need pro 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 a couple of things.
Haven’t scheduled maintenance recently and your furnace is creating a banging sound when turning on? Its burners may be dirty. Dirty burners can stall ignition, which causes gas to accumulate in your furnace.
All that accumulated gas can create a banging or booming noise when your furnace ultimately does ignite. But this is more than just an irritating noise, since the accumulated gas is erupting within your furnace. This can damage your furnace’s heat exchanger and create a life-threatening carbon monoxide leak.
If you’ve overlooked regular service for your furnace and you’re hearing this noise, give Van Haaften Plumbing & Heating a shout at 641-628-3621. Our heating specialists will get your furnace tuned up and make sure it’s working correctly.
Your ductwork can also make banging sounds when your furnace switches on, since the metal is expanding and contracting.
We advise first looking at your furnace’s air filter and getting a new one if it’s dirty. Next, double-check 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 problem, your ductwork could be dirty or undersized, which will be a need for assistance from a pro HVAC specialist.
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 frequently seen with a faltering blower fan motor, which will make an annoying buzzing noise when your furnace starts. It can also mean there’s an issue with the capacitor or transformer. All three of these troubles need support from a skilled heating and cooling company like Van Haaften Plumbing & Heating.
Furnace Making Knocking Noise
If your furnace is making knocking sounds, it’s usually a symptom that an internal component is worn out. This could be anything from a bearing to a belt or the gas valve. It could also be a sign that your burners need to be cleaned.
These troubles are typically uncovered during regular maintenance done by a certified HVAC professional. So, while we’re at your residence doing repairs, don’t forget to check with us about scheduling your maintenance appointment for the upcoming year.
Furnace Making Clicking Noise
A clicking sound can be the result of things: worn bearings, gas valve issues or ignition issues. All these problems need pro support.
At Van Haaften Plumbing & Heating, our experts are here to help you relax in peaceful, energy-efficient comfort. If your furnace is louder than it typically is or producing strange sounds, contact us at 641-628-3621 to book an appointment right away.
