As your furnace switches on and begins to warm up your house, it’s typical for it to make some noise. These sounds, including the burners lighting and the blower whirring, are all part of the usual start-up steps.
But there are several steps you can do to make your furnace less noisy this winter.
1. Request Yearly Furnace Maintenance
Furnace maintenance is extremely important, as it keeps your manufacturer warranty ongoing. This helps defend you if something huge malfunctions in your furnace during your warranty period.
It can also help us uncover minor issues that might make your furnace loud. And possibly help you avoid a breakdown on the coldest day of the year. The Indoor Air Quality Association reports that routine maintenance can reduce your chance of furnace breakdowns by up to 95%.
If little furnace troubles are left unnoticed, they may lead to an issue later on. By finding these issues sooner, our professionals can get your furnace fixed before heating season is in full swing.
And, most important, pro cleaning and lubrication of your furnace’s moving components can help make it more efficient. A correctly maintained furnace could save up to 30% on your heating costs, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
2. Routinely Put in a New Furnace’s Air Filter
Your air filter helps keep your house’s air fresh and clean. When it becomes too clogged, it can make your furnace turn on and off more than it should. Referred to as short cycling, this can cause your furnace to consume extra fuel and make it stop working faster.
Our suggestions for replacing your furnace filter:
- Flat filter: Once a month
- Pleated filter: Every three months
You could have to replace your filter more often if you have allergies or pets.
3. Call Street Heating and Cooling When Your Furnace is Making Odd Noises
Some furnaces, particularly older ones, might make more noise than others. But if you’re noticing very loud or strange noises, you should contact a heating and cooling company like Street Heating and Cooling for furnace repair in Rapid City.
Here are several 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 is more common with high-efficiency furnaces. That’s because they emit fumes in another way than older furnaces, and the process can produce some moisture. If your furnace is having issues removing this water, it might make gurgling or bubbling sounds. You’ll require pro support for this problem, since it might be the result of by a blocked drain pipe or clogged drain pan.
Furnace Making Banging Noise
It’s not a great sign when your furnace is making a banging sound. It may mean several things.
Haven’t requested maintenance recently and your furnace is producing a banging sound when turning on? Its burners might be dirty. Dirty burners can hold up ignition, which results in gas accumulating in your furnace.
All that built-up gas can create a banging or booming racket when your furnace finally does ignite. But this is more than only an annoying noise, since the built-up gas is exploding within your furnace. This can crack your furnace’s heat exchanger and make a life-threatening carbon monoxide leak.
If you’ve forgotten yearly service for your furnace and you’re hearing this noise, give Street Heating and Cooling a shout at 605-206-3915. Our heating professionals will get your furnace tuned up and ensure it’s operating accurately.
Your ductwork can also produce banging sounds when your furnace switches on, because the metal is expanding and contracting.
We suggest first looking at your furnace’s air filter and getting a new one if it’s dirty. Next, ensure you don’t have too many vents sealed in your residence, as it can force air pressure out of balance.
If neither of these steps fix the problem, your ductwork could be dirty or undersized, which will require assistance from a pro HVAC technician.
Furnace Making Humming or Buzzing Noise
If your furnace is buzzing or humming, it’s a flag there’s an electrical problem. This is most often seen with a sputtering blower fan motor, which will create an annoying buzzing noise when your furnace switches on. It might also mean there’s an issue with the capacitor or transformer. All three of these issues call for support from an experienced heating and cooling company like Street Heating and Cooling.
Furnace Making Knocking Noise
If your furnace is making knocking sounds, it’s often a sign that an internal piece is going out. This could be anything from a bearing to a belt or the gas valve. It could also be an indication that your burners need to be cleaned.
These problems are usually unearthed during regular maintenance done by a certified HVAC tech. So, while we’re at your residence performing repairs, don’t forget to ask us about booking your maintenance appointment for the upcoming year.
Furnace Making Clicking Noise
A clicking sound may be created by problems: worn bearings, gas valve issues or ignition troubles. All these troubles call for skilled support.
At Street Heating and Cooling, our specialists are here to help you unwind in tranquil, energy-efficient comfort. If your furnace is louder than normal or making strange sounds, contact us at 605-206-3915 to schedule an appointment right away.