Three Approaches to Make Your Furnace More Quiet
Feb 23, 2024
Author
Jake Nielson
Manager
As your furnace starts up and gets ready to heat your house, it’s common for it to produce some noise. These sounds, such as the burners lighting and the blower whirring, are all part of the usual start-up process.
But there are several steps you can do to make your furnace run more quietly this winter.
1. Book Regular Furnace Maintenance
Furnace maintenance is very important, as it keeps your manufacturer warranty ongoing. This helps shield you if something huge stops working in your furnace during your warranty time.
It can also help us find minor issues that could make your furnace loud. And potentially help you avoid a meltdown on the coldest day of the year. The Indoor Air Quality Association reports that regular maintenance can lower your likelihood of furnace breakdowns by up to 95%.
If little furnace troubles go undetected, they may lead to trouble down the road. By finding these troubles sooner, our professionals can get your furnace repaired before heating season is at its peak.
And most critical, specialized 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 heating costs, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
2. Frequently Put in a New Furnace’s Air Filter
Your air filter helps keep your home’s air fresh and clean. When it gets too filthy, it can make your furnace turn on and off more than it should. Known as short cycling, this can cause your furnace to eat up additional energy and make it wear out faster.
Our advice for installing a new furnace filter:
Flat filter: Monthly
Pleated filter: Every three months
You could have to change your filter more often if you have allergies or pets.
3. Contact Schraer Heating & Air Conditioning When Your Furnace Is Producing Odd Noises
Some furnaces, often older ones, may be louder than others. But if you’re detecting very loud or weird noises, you should call a heating and cooling company like Schraer Heating & Air Conditioning for furnace repair in Warrenton.
Here are a few noises to keep an eye out for, how to take care of them and when to get in touch with 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 differently than older furnaces, and the process can create some moisture. If your furnace is running into difficulties discharging this water, it may make gurgling or bubbling sounds. You’ll want experienced support for this problem, since it can 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 might mean a few things.
Haven’t requested maintenance recently and your furnace is making a banging sound when starting? Its burners may be dirty. Dirty burners can hold up ignition, which results in gas accumulating inside your furnace.
All that increased gas can create a banging or booming sound when your furnace ultimately does ignite. But this is more than merely an irritating noise, since the accumulated gas is erupting within your furnace. This can damage your furnace’s heat exchanger and cause a life-threatening carbon monoxide leak.
If you’ve overlooked regular service for your furnace and you’re noticing this noise, give Schraer Heating & Air Conditioning a call at 636-456-5041. Our heating professionals will get your furnace tuned up and ensure it’s running correctly.
Your ductwork can also produce banging sounds when your furnace starts, as the metal is expanding and contracting.
We recommend first looking at 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 force air pressure out of balance.
If neither of these things repair the sound, your ductwork may be dirty or undersized, which will be a need for assistance from a skilled HVAC specialist.
Furnace Making Humming or Buzzing Noise
If your furnace is buzzing or humming, it’s a flag there’s an electrical issue. This is most often seen with a sputtering blower fan motor, which will produce a loud buzzing noise when your furnace switches on. It might also mean there’s a problem with the capacitor or transformer. All three of these problems need help from an experienced heating and cooling company like Schraer Heating & Air Conditioning.
Furnace Making Knocking Noise
If your furnace is making knocking sounds, it’s often a symptom that an internal component is dying. This could be anything from a bearing to a belt or the gas valve. It could also be an indication that your burners are dirty.
These issues are usually uncovered during annual maintenance provided by a certified HVAC professional. So, while we’re at your residence working on repairs, don’t forget to check with us about scheduling 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 troubles. All these problems need skilled assistance.
At Schraer Heating & Air Conditioning, our pros are here to help you unwind in peaceful, energy-efficient comfort. If your furnace is louder than normal or producing weird sounds, contact us at 636-456-5041 to request an appointment right away.