As your furnace turns on and gets ready to heat your home, it’s normal for it to produce some noise. These sounds, including the burners igniting and the blower running, are all part of the typical start-up procedures.

But there are several approaches 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 defend you if something big stops working in your furnace during your warranty period.

It can also help our professionals find small issues that could make your furnace annoying. And maybe help you sidestep a meltdown on the coldest day of the year. The Indoor Air Quality Association reports that regular maintenance can lower your likelihood of furnace meltdowns by up to 95%.

If small furnace troubles go ignored, they may cause trouble down the road. By finding these issues sooner, our techs can get your furnace taken care of before heating season is underway.

And most critical, specialized cleaning and lubrication of your furnace’s moving components can help make it more efficient. A properly maintained furnace could save up to 30% on your gas expenses, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

2. Frequently 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 too frequently. Known as short cycling, this can cause your furnace to use additional fuel and make it wear out faster.

Our recommendations for installing a new furnace filter:

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

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

3. Get in Touch with Patterson & Stirling When Your Furnace Is Making Strange Noises

Some furnaces, particularly older ones, can be noisier than others. But if you’re noticing exceedingly loud or weird noises, you should contact a heating and cooling company like Patterson & Stirling for furnace repair in Erie.

Here are a few noises to keep an eye out for, how to repair them and when to contact a specialist.

Furnace Making Gurgling or Bubbling Noise

This noise is more common with high-efficiency furnaces. That’s because they exhaust fumes differently than older furnaces, and the process can produce some moisture. If your furnace is experiencing difficulties removing this water, it could make gurgling or bubbling sounds. You’ll want pro support for this problem, since it may 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 may mean a few things.

Haven’t requested maintenance recently and your furnace is producing a banging sound when beginning? Its burners can be dirty. Dirty burners can stall ignition, which causes gas to accumulate inside your furnace.

All that accumulated gas can make a banging or booming noise when your furnace ultimately does ignite. But this is more than only an irritating noise, because the accumulated gas is igniting within your furnace. This can damage your furnace’s heat exchanger and make a dangerous carbon monoxide leak.

If you’ve ignored regular tune-ups for your furnace and you’re noticing this noise, give Patterson & Stirling a ring at 814-308-0416. Our heating pros will get your furnace tuned up and make sure it’s operating correctly.

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

We recommend first checking 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 residence, as it can make air pressure uneven.

If neither of these steps repair the problem, 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 electrical troubles. This is most usually seen with a faltering blower fan motor, which will create a loud buzzing noise when your furnace begins to heat. It might also mean there’s trouble with the capacitor or transformer. All three of these troubles need support from a professional heating and cooling company like Patterson & Stirling.

Furnace Making Knocking Noise

If your furnace is making knocking sounds, it’s usually a symptom that an internal part is dying. This can be anything from a bearing to a belt or the gas valve. It might also be a sign that your burners need cleaning.

These issues are typically uncovered during yearly maintenance done by a certified HVAC technician. So, while we’re at your residence doing repairs, don’t forget to inquire about scheduling your maintenance appointment for the upcoming year.

Furnace Making Clicking Noise

A clicking sound might be the result of problems: worn bearings, gas valve problems or ignition problems. All these problems need specialized assistance.

At Patterson & Stirling, our experts are here to help you unwind in peaceful, energy-efficient comfort. If your furnace is louder than it usually is or producing odd sounds, contact us at 814-308-0416 to request an appointment right away.