As your furnace switches on and gets ready to warm up your residence, it’s common for it to create some noise. These sounds, like the burners igniting 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. Book Yearly Furnace Maintenance
Furnace maintenance is very important, as it keeps your manufacturer warranty valid. This helps shield you if something major stops working in your furnace during your warranty range.
It can also help our professionals discover little issues that can make your furnace noisy. And possibly help you sidestep a breakdown on the coldest day of the year. The Indoor Air Quality Association reports that regular maintenance can decrease your chance of furnace repairs by up to 95%.
If minor furnace issues go unnoticed, they may cause trouble later on. By unearthing these problems sooner, our technicians can get your furnace repaired before heating season begins.
And most critical, professional cleaning and lubrication of your furnace’s moving pieces can help make it more efficient. A correctly maintained furnace could save up to 30% on your heating bills, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
2. Routinely Change Your Furnace’s Air Filter
Your air filter helps keep your residence’s air fresh and clean. When it gets too filthy, 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 additional fuel and make it break down faster.
Our recommendations for installing a new furnace filter:
- Flat filter: Every month
- Pleated filter: Every three months
You could have to replace your filter more regularly if you have allergies or pets.
3. Contact Home Furniture, Plumbing & Heating When Your Furnace Is Making Odd Noises
Some furnaces, often older ones, may be louder than others. But if you’re noticing very loud or odd noises, it may be time to contact a heating and cooling company like Home Furniture, Plumbing & Heating for furnace repair in Kankakee.
Here are several noises to be on the lookout for, how to repair them and when to contact a specialist.
Furnace Making Gurgling or Bubbling Noise
This noise happens more frequently with high-efficiency furnaces. That’s since they exhaust fumes in another way than older furnaces, and the process can make some moisture. If your furnace is having difficulties discharging this water, it can make gurgling or bubbling sounds. You’ll require professional support for this problem, since it could be created by a blocked drain pipe or clogged drain pan.
Furnace Making Banging Noise
It’s not a positive thing when your furnace is making a banging sound. It can mean several things.
Haven’t scheduled maintenance recently and your furnace is making a banging sound when starting? Its burners can be dirty. Dirty burners can hold up ignition, which causes gas to accumulate within your furnace.
All that accumulated gas can make a banging or booming sound when your furnace ultimately does ignite. But this is more than merely an irritating noise, since the increased gas is exploding within your furnace. This can damage your furnace’s heat exchanger and cause a life-threatening carbon monoxide leak.
If you’ve neglected regular maintenance for your furnace and you’re noticing this noise, give Home Furniture, Plumbing & Heating a ring at 815-933-8213. Our heating pros will get your furnace tuned up and ensure it’s operating correctly.
Your ductwork can also make banging sounds when your furnace starts, since the metal is expanding and contracting.
We recommend first checking your furnace’s air filter and installing a new one if it’s dirty. Next, make sure you don’t have too many vents sealed in your house, as it can throw off air pressure.
If neither of these steps repair the issue, your ductwork might be dirty or undersized, which will call for assistance from a professional HVAC tech.
Furnace Making Humming or Buzzing Noise
If your furnace is buzzing or humming, it’s a sign there’s electrical troubles. This is most often seen with a dying blower fan motor, which will make an annoying buzzing noise when your furnace starts. It can also mean there’s a problem with the capacitor or transformer. All three of these troubles need help from an experienced heating and cooling company like Home Furniture, Plumbing & Heating.
Furnace Making Knocking Noise
If your furnace is making knocking sounds, it’s usually a symptom that an internal component is worn out. This may 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 troubles are often uncovered during yearly maintenance performed by a certified HVAC professional. So, while we’re at your home doing repairs, don’t forget to ask us about requesting your maintenance appointment for next year.
Furnace Making Clicking Noise
A clicking sound might be the result of troubles: worn bearings, gas valve issues or ignition problems. All these issues need skilled support.
At Home Furniture, Plumbing & Heating, our specialists are here to help you enjoy peaceful, energy-efficient comfort. If your furnace is louder than it typically is or producing strange sounds, contact us at 815-933-8213 to request an appointment right away.