
As your furnace turns on and begins to add warmth to your house, it’s normal for it to make some noise. These sounds, including the burners firing up and the blower operating, are all part of the typical start-up steps.
But there are several steps you can do to make your furnace run more quietly this winter.
1. Schedule Yearly Furnace Maintenance
Furnace maintenance is very important, because it keeps your manufacturer warranty in place. This helps protect you if something major stops working in your furnace during your warranty range.
It can also help our pros uncover small issues that might make your furnace noisy. And possibly help you sidestep a meltdown on the chilliest day of the year. The Indoor Air Quality Association reports that annual maintenance can decrease your probability of furnace breakdowns by up to 95%.
If little furnace issues go unnoticed, they may lead to trouble later on. By discovering these problems sooner, our technicians can get your furnace taken care of before heating season begins.
And most essential, professional cleaning and lubrication of your furnace’s moving pieces can help make it more efficient. A well-maintained furnace could save up to 30% on your utility bills, 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 often. Referred to as short cycling, this can cause your furnace to eat up additional energy and make it wear out faster.
Our advice for changing your furnace filter:
- Flat filter: Once a month
- Pleated filter: Every three months
You may have to replace your filter more frequently if you have allergies or pets.
3. Call Olde Towne Heating & Air When Your Furnace Is Producing Weird Noises
Some furnaces, especially older ones, can be louder than others. But if you’re detecting extremely loud or strange noises, you should call a heating and cooling company like Olde Towne Heating & Air for furnace repair in Mount Pleasant.
Here are a few noises to be looking for, how to take care of them and when to contact a professional.
Furnace Making Gurgling or Bubbling Noise
This noise is more common with high-efficiency furnaces. That’s because they emit fumes differently than older furnaces, and the process can make some moisture. If your furnace is having difficulties removing this water, it can make gurgling or bubbling sounds. You’ll require skilled} support for this problem, since it may 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 requested maintenance recently and your furnace is making a banging sound when starting? Its burners might be dirty. Dirty burners can hold up ignition, which results in gas accumulating inside your furnace.
All that built-up 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 built-up gas is igniting within your furnace. This can crack your furnace’s heat exchanger and create a dangerous carbon monoxide leak.
If you’ve overlooked regular service for your furnace and you’re noticing this noise, give Olde Towne Heating & Air a shout at 843-485-0967. Our heating pros will get your furnace tuned up and double-check it’s operating correctly.
Your ductwork can also create banging sounds when your furnace starts, since the metal is expanding and contracting.
We advise first inspecting your furnace’s air filter and getting a new one if it’s clogged. Next, ensure you don’t have too many vents closed in your house, as it can force air pressure out of balance.
If neither of these methods repair the sound, your ductwork may be dirty or undersized, which will require 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 an electrical problem. This is most often seen with a dying blower fan motor, which will produce a loud buzzing noise when your furnace begins to heat. It may also mean there’s a problem with the capacitor or transformer. All three of these problems need help from a professional heating and cooling company like Olde Towne Heating & Air.
Furnace Making Knocking Noise
If your furnace is making knocking sounds, it’s usually a symptom that an internal piece is breaking down. This may be anything from a bearing to a belt or the gas valve. It can also be a sign that your burners are dirty.
These troubles are often uncovered during annual maintenance performed by a certified HVAC pro. So, while we’re at your residence working on repairs, don’t forget to check with us about requesting your maintenance appointment for the future.
Furnace Making Clicking Noise
A clicking sound might be the result of troubles: worn bearings, gas valve issues or ignition issues. All these issues need pro support.
At Olde Towne Heating & Air, our specialists 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 843-485-0967 to get an appointment right away.