As your furnace switches on and prepares to add warmth to your home, it’s expected for it to produce some noise. These sounds, like the burners lighting and the blower operating, are all part of the normal start-up process.
But there are a few steps you can do to make your furnace quieter this winter.
1. Book Regular Furnace Maintenance
Furnace maintenance is highly important, because it keeps your manufacturer warranty ongoing. This helps protect you if something major stops working in your furnace during your warranty range.
It can also help our pros discover small issues that might make your furnace loud. And maybe help you avoid a malfunction on the chilliest day of the year. The Indoor Air Quality Association reports that regular maintenance can reduce your likelihood of furnace breakdowns by up to 95%.
If little furnace issues go unnoticed, they may result in trouble in the future. By discovering these issues sooner, our professionals can get your furnace taken care of before heating season is underway.
And most critical, professional cleaning and lubrication of your furnace’s moving parts can help make it more efficient. A properly maintained furnace could save up to 30% on your gas costs, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
2. Regularly Replace Your Furnace’s Air Filter
Your air filter helps keep your house’s air fresh and clean. When it gets too clogged, it can make your furnace turn on and off too frequently. Called short cycling, this can cause your furnace to use additional fuel and make it stop working faster.
Our suggestions for changing your furnace filter:
- Flat filter: Monthly
- Pleated filter: Every three months
You might have to install a new filter more regularly if you have allergies or pets.
3. Contact Gilray Heating and Cooling When Your Furnace Is Creating Odd Noises
Some furnaces, often older ones, could be noisier than others. But if you’re detecting extremely loud or odd noises, it may be time to get in touch with a heating and cooling company like Gilray Heating and Cooling for furnace repair in Wausau.
Here are a couple of noises to keep an eye out for, how to repair them and when to get in touch with a professional.
Furnace Making Gurgling or Bubbling Noise
This noise happens more frequently with high-efficiency furnaces. That’s because they emit fumes in another way than older furnaces, and the process can make some moisture. If your furnace is experiencing difficulties draining this water, it can 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 great thing when your furnace is making a banging sound. It could mean a few things.
Haven’t requested maintenance recently and your furnace is making a banging sound when starting? Its burners can be dirty. Dirty burners can delay ignition, which results in gas accumulating within your furnace.
All that accumulated gas can create a banging or booming racket when your furnace ultimately} does ignite. But this is more than merely an irritating noise, as the increased gas is igniting within your furnace. This can damage your furnace’s heat exchanger and make a life-threatening carbon monoxide leak.
If you’ve forgotten regular tune-ups for your furnace and you’re hearing this noise, give Gilray Heating and Cooling a shout at 715-301-0727. Our heating specialists will get your furnace tuned up and ensure it’s working correctly.
Your ductwork can also produce banging sounds when your furnace turns on, since the metal is expanding and contracting.
We recommend first inspecting your furnace’s air filter and replacing it if it’s dirty. Next, make sure you don’t have too many vents sealed in your home, as it can make air pressure uneven.
If neither of these things repair the problem, your ductwork might 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 electrical troubles. This is most frequently seen with a sputtering blower fan motor, which will produce an annoying buzzing noise when your furnace starts. It may also mean there’s a problem with the capacitor or transformer. All three of these issues need help from an experienced heating and cooling company like Gilray Heating and Cooling.
Furnace Making Knocking Noise
If your furnace is making knocking sounds, it’s typically a symptom that an internal piece is dying. This could be anything from a bearing to a belt or the gas valve. It could also be a symptom that your burners are dirty.
These issues are typically uncovered during yearly maintenance provided by a certified HVAC professional. So, while we’re at your home performing repairs, don’t forget to check with us about booking your maintenance appointment for the future.
Furnace Making Clicking Noise
A clicking sound might be the result of problems: worn bearings, gas valve troubles or ignition problems. All these issues need professional help.
At Gilray Heating and Cooling, our professionals are here to help you unwind in peaceful, energy-efficient comfort. If your furnace is louder than normal or producing strange sounds, contact us at 715-301-0727 to request an appointment right away.