As your furnace turns on and prepares to warm up your home, it’s typical for it to produce some noise. These sounds, like the burners lighting and the blower running, are all part of the usual start-up process.

But there are a couple of approaches you can do to make your furnace less noisy this winter.

1. Request Annual Furnace Maintenance

Furnace maintenance is highly important, since it keeps your manufacturer warranty in place. This helps defend you if something big stops working in your furnace during your warranty time.

It can also help us find minor issues that might make your furnace noisy. And maybe help you avoid a breakdown on the most frigid day of the year. The Indoor Air Quality Association reports that annual maintenance can reduce your probability of furnace breakdowns by up to 95%.

If small furnace problems go undetected, they may cause trouble in the future. By unearthing these problems sooner, our technicians can get your furnace taken care of before heating season is at its peak.

And most important, professional cleaning and lubrication of your furnace’s moving pieces can help make it more efficient. A properly maintained furnace could save up to 30% on your energy bills, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

2. Regularly Change Your Furnace’s Air Filter

Your air filter helps keep your home’s air fresh and clean. When it becomes too dirty, it can make your furnace turn on and off more than it should. Called short cycling, this can cause your furnace to use additional fuel and make it stop working faster.

Our suggestions for changing your furnace filter:

  • Flat filter: Once a month
  • Pleated filter: Every three months

You may have to get a new filter more frequently if you have allergies or pets.

3. Call Van Haaften Plumbing & Heating When Your Furnace Is Producing Odd Noises

Some furnaces, especially older ones, could make more noise than others. But if you’re hearing extremely loud or weird noises, you should contact a heating and cooling company like Van Haaften Plumbing & Heating for furnace repair in Pella.

Here are several noises to be on the lookout for, how to take care of them and when to get in touch with a specialist.

Furnace Making Gurgling or Bubbling Noise

This noise is more common with high-efficiency furnaces. That’s since they emit fumes dissimilarly than older furnaces, and the process can create some moisture. If your furnace is running into difficulties draining this water, it might make gurgling or bubbling sounds. You’ll want professional} support for this issue, since it might 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 requested maintenance recently and your furnace is producing a banging sound when starting? Its burners might be dirty. Dirty burners can delay ignition, which leads gas to accumulate within your furnace.

All that increased gas can make a banging or booming noise when your furnace eventually} does ignite. But this is more than only an irritating noise, as the built-up gas is exploding within your furnace. This can break your furnace’s heat exchanger and create a dangerous carbon monoxide leak.

If you’ve neglected regular service for your furnace and you’re detecting this noise, give Van Haaften Plumbing & Heating a ring at 641-628-3621. Our heating professionals will get your furnace tuned up and ensure it’s working correctly.

Your ductwork can also create banging sounds when your furnace starts, because the metal is expanding and contracting.

We recommend first looking at your furnace’s air filter and installing a new one if it’s filthy. Next, make sure you don’t have too many vents sealed in your residence, as it can throw off air pressure.

If neither of these steps repair the sound, your ductwork might be dirty or undersized, which will call for assistance from a skilled 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 often seen with a dying blower fan motor, which will create a loud buzzing noise when your furnace turns on. It can also mean there’s an issue with the capacitor or transformer. All three of these issues need support from an experienced heating and cooling company like Van Haaften Plumbing & Heating.

Furnace Making Knocking Noise

If your furnace is making knocking sounds, it’s typically a symptom that an internal piece is breaking down. This can be anything from a bearing to a belt or the gas valve. It may also be a symptom that your burners need to be cleaned.

These issues are frequently uncovered during regular maintenance performed by a certified HVAC technician. So, while we’re at your residence performing repairs, don’t forget to check with us about booking your maintenance appointment for next year.

Furnace Making Clicking Noise

A clicking sound may be the result of problems: worn bearings, gas valve problems or ignition problems. All these troubles need pro help.

At Van Haaften Plumbing & Heating, our professionals are here to help you unwind in peaceful, energy-efficient comfort. If your furnace is louder than normal or producing strange sounds, contact us at 641-628-3621 to schedule an appointment now.