As your furnace switches on and begins to add warmth to your house, it’s typical for it to produce some noise. These sounds, such as the burners lighting and the blower running, are all part of the normal start-up steps.
But there are a few approaches you can do to make your furnace quieter this winter.
1. Schedule Regular Furnace Maintenance
Furnace maintenance is highly important, since it keeps your manufacturer warranty ongoing. This helps shield you if something huge malfunctions in your furnace during your warranty time.
It can also help our professionals find little problems that can make your furnace annoying. And possibly help you avoid a breakdown on the coldest day of the year. The Indoor Air Quality Association reports that regular maintenance can decrease your likelihood of furnace repairs by up to 95%.
If little furnace troubles are left undetected, they can result in trouble later on. By finding these troubles sooner, our professionals can get your furnace fixed before heating season is underway.
And, most critical, specialized cleaning and lubrication of your furnace’s moving pieces can help make it more efficient. A well- maintained furnace could save up to 30% on your heating bills, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
2. Routinely Install a New 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. Called short cycling, this can cause your furnace to use more gas and make it wear out faster.
Our recommendations for replacing your furnace filter:
- Flat filter: Every month
- Pleated filter: Every three months
You may have to get a new filter more often if you have allergies or pets.
3. Call Patterson & Stirling Inc When Your Furnace is Creating Weird Noises
Some furnaces, particularly older ones, could be louder than others. But if you’re hearing extremely loud or odd noises, it may be time to contact a heating and cooling company like Patterson & Stirling Inc for furnace repair in Erie.
Here are a couple of noises to keep an eye out for, how to repair them and when to call a pro.
Furnace Making Gurgling or Bubbling Noise
This noise happens more frequently with high-efficiency furnaces. That’s due to the fact they exhaust fumes dissimilarly older furnaces, and the process can create some moisture. If your furnace is having issues removing this water, it might make gurgling or bubbling sounds. You’ll need skilled help for this issue, since it can be the result of by a blocked drain pipe or clogged drain pan.
Furnace Making Banging Noise
It’s not a good sign when your furnace is making a banging sound. It may mean a couple of things.
Haven’t requested maintenance recently and your furnace is producing a banging sound when beginning? Its burners may 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 eventually does ignite. But this is more than only an irritating noise, as the increased gas is igniting inside your furnace. This can crack your furnace’s heat exchanger and create a life-threatening carbon monoxide leak.
If you’ve forgotten regular tune-ups for your furnace and you’re detecting this noise, give Patterson & Stirling Inc a shout at 814-308-0416. 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 starts, since the metal is expanding and contracting.
We suggest first checking your furnace’s air filter and replacing it if it’s clogged. Next, ensure you don’t have too many vents shut in your house, as it can make air pressure uneven.
If neither of these things fix the issue, your ductwork could be dirty or undersized, which will require assistance from a pro HVAC tech.
Furnace Making Humming or Buzzing Noise
If your furnace is buzzing or humming, it’s a sign 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 trouble with the capacitor or transformer. All three of these issues need assistance from a skilled heating and cooling company like Patterson & Stirling Inc.
Furnace Making Knocking Noise
If your furnace is making knocking sounds, it’s usually a symptom that an internal part is breaking down. This may be anything from a bearing to a belt or the gas valve. It can also be a symptom that your burners are dirty.
These issues are frequently uncovered during regular maintenance performed by a certified HVAC tech. So, while we’re at your home working on repairs, don’t forget to inquire about requesting your maintenance appointment for the upcoming year.
Furnace Making Clicking Noise
A clicking sound could be the result of things: worn bearings, gas valve problems or ignition troubles. All these troubles need skilled assistance.
At Patterson & Stirling Inc, our specialists are here to help you unwind in quiet, energy-efficient comfort. If your furnace is louder than it usually is or making weird sounds, contact us at 814-308-0416 to get an appointment right away.