As your furnace starts up and gets ready to warm up your house, it’s common for it to create some noise. These sounds, including the burners lighting and the blower operating, are all part of the normal start-up steps.

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

1. Request Annual 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 period.

It can also help our professionals discover small issues that can make your furnace annoying. And possibly help you avoid a meltdown on the chilliest day of the year. The Indoor Air Quality Association reports that annual maintenance can reduce your probability of furnace repairs by up to 95%.

If minor furnace problems go ignored, they may cause trouble in the future. By finding these issues sooner, our pros can get your furnace repaired before heating season is at its peak.

And most critical, professional cleaning and lubrication of your furnace’s moving parts can help make it more efficient. A well-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 turns too dirty, it can make your furnace turn on and off too often. Known as short cycling, this can cause your furnace to consume additional fuel and make it stop working faster.

Our advice for changing your furnace filter:

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

You may have to replace your filter more often if you have allergies or pets.

3. Contact Home Furniture, Plumbing & Heating When Your Furnace Is Creating Strange Noises

Some furnaces, especially older ones, could be noisier than others. But if you’re hearing extremely loud or strange noises, you should get in touch with a heating and cooling company like Home Furniture, Plumbing & Heating for furnace repair in Kankakee.

Here are a few noises to keep an eye out for, how to solve them and when to get in touch with a professional.

Furnace Making Gurgling or Bubbling Noise

This noise is more common with high-efficiency furnaces. That’s since they exhaust fumes in another way than older furnaces, and the process can produce some moisture. If your furnace is having difficulties removing this water, it might make gurgling or bubbling sounds. You’ll need professional support for this issue, since it could 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 can mean a few things.

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

All that built-up gas can make a banging or booming racket when your furnace eventually does ignite. But this is more than only an irritating noise, since the increased gas is igniting within your furnace. This can break your furnace’s heat exchanger and cause a life-threatening carbon monoxide leak.

If you’ve overlooked regular maintenance for your furnace and you’re hearing this noise, give Home Furniture, Plumbing & Heating a ring at 815-933-8213. Our heating professionals will get your furnace tuned up and make sure it’s running correctly.

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

We recommend first inspecting your furnace’s air filter and getting a new one if it’s filthy. Next, ensure you don’t have too many vents sealed in your house, as it can throw off air pressure.

If neither of these methods repair the sound, your ductwork could 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 flag there’s an electrical problem. This is most often seen with a faltering blower fan motor, which will produce a loud buzzing noise when your furnace begins to heat. It could also mean there’s trouble with the capacitor or transformer. All three of these troubles need help from a skilled heating and cooling company like Home Furniture, Plumbing & Heating.

Furnace Making Knocking Noise

If your furnace is making knocking sounds, it’s typically a symptom that an internal piece is worn out. This might be anything from a bearing to a belt or the gas valve. It might also be a sign that your burners are dirty.

These issues are typically uncovered during regular maintenance done by a certified HVAC professional. So, while we’re at your home performing repairs, don’t forget to inquire about requesting your maintenance appointment for next year.

Furnace Making Clicking Noise

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

At Home Furniture, Plumbing & Heating, our specialists are here to help you relax in peaceful, energy-efficient comfort. If your furnace is louder than normal or producing odd sounds, contact us at 815-933-8213 to request an appointment now.