As your furnace switches on and gets ready to heat your residence, it’s typical for it to create some noise. These sounds, such as the burners lighting and the blower whirring, are all part of the usual start-up steps.

But there are several things you can do to make your furnace quieter this winter.

1. Schedule Annual Furnace Maintenance

Furnace maintenance is highly important, as it keeps your manufacturer warranty valid. 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 might make your furnace annoying. And potentially help you prevent a breakdown on the most frigid day of the year. The Indoor Air Quality Association reports that regular maintenance can lower your likelihood of furnace breakdowns by up to 95%.

If little furnace troubles go ignored, they may cause trouble down the road. By uncovering these troubles sooner, our professionals can get your furnace fixed before heating season begins.

And most essential, pro cleaning and lubrication of your furnace’s moving parts 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. Frequently Put in a New Furnace’s Air Filter

Your air filter helps keep your house’s air fresh and clean. When it gets too filthy, it can make your furnace turn on and off more than it should. Known as short cycling, this can cause your furnace to use additional fuel and make it break down faster.

Our recommendations for changing your furnace filter:

  • Flat filter: Every 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 Making Odd Noises

Some furnaces, particularly older ones, can make more noise than others. But if you’re noticing very loud or weird 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 keep an eye out for, how to fix them and when to call a specialist.

Furnace Making Gurgling or Bubbling Noise

This noise is more common with high-efficiency furnaces. That’s due to the fact they emit fumes in another way than older furnaces, and the process can produce some moisture. If your furnace is experiencing difficulties removing this water, it can make gurgling or bubbling sounds. You’ll need experienced support for this trouble, since it might 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 could mean several things.

Haven’t scheduled maintenance recently and your furnace is producing a banging sound when starting? Its burners may be dirty. Dirty burners can stall ignition, which leads gas to accumulate inside your furnace.

All that built-up gas can cause a banging or booming racket when your furnace finally does ignite. But this is more than only an irritating noise, since the accumulated gas is erupting within your furnace. This can crack your furnace’s heat exchanger and make a dangerous carbon monoxide leak.

If you’ve forgotten regular maintenance for your furnace and you’re detecting this noise, give Olde Towne Heating & Air a call at 843-485-0967. Our heating specialists will get your furnace tuned up and double-check it’s running correctly.

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

We advise first looking at your furnace’s air filter and installing a new one if it’s dirty. Next, make sure you don’t have too many vents shut in your residence, as it can force air pressure out of balance.

If neither of these steps repair the issue, your ductwork may be dirty or undersized, which will require 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 usually seen with a sputtering blower fan motor, which will produce a loud buzzing noise when your furnace switches on. It may also mean there’s an issue with the capacitor or transformer. All three of these issues need help from an experienced heating and cooling company like Olde Towne Heating & Air.

Furnace Making Knocking Noise

If your furnace is making knocking sounds, it’s often a symptom that an internal component is dying. This may be anything from a bearing to a belt or the gas valve. It might also be a symptom that your burners are dirty.

These issues are typically uncovered during yearly maintenance performed by a certified HVAC pro. So, while we’re at your home doing repairs, don’t forget to inquire about booking 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 support.

At Olde Towne Heating & Air, our specialists are here to help you enjoy peaceful, energy-efficient comfort. If your furnace is louder than normal or producing strange sounds, contact us at 843-485-0967 to request an appointment today.