As your furnace turns on and gets ready to add warmth to your house, it’s expected for it to produce some noise. These sounds, including the burners firing up and the blower operating, 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. Request Regular Furnace Maintenance
Furnace maintenance is very important, since it keeps your manufacturer warranty ongoing. This helps defend you if something major stops working in your furnace during your warranty time.
It can also help our pros discover minor issues that might make your furnace loud. And maybe help you avoid a breakdown on the most frigid day of the year. The Indoor Air Quality Association reports that regular maintenance can lower your probability of furnace meltdowns by up to 95%.
If little furnace troubles go unnoticed, they may lead to trouble down the road. By uncovering these issues sooner, our techs can get your furnace fixed before heating season is at its peak.
And most important, pro 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 heating costs, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
2. Frequently Install a New Furnace’s Air Filter
Your air filter helps keep your home’s air fresh and clean. When it becomes too dirty, 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 fuel and make it wear out faster.
Our suggestions 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. Call Woody's Sudden Service When Your Furnace Is Producing Weird Noises
Some furnaces, often older ones, can make more noise than others. But if you’re noticing very loud or strange noises, it may be time to get in touch with a heating and cooling company like Woody's Sudden Service for furnace repair in Manassas.
Here are a few noises to be looking for, how to repair them and when to contact a professional.
Furnace Making Gurgling or Bubbling Noise
This noise is more common with high-efficiency furnaces. That’s since they emit fumes differently than older furnaces, and the process can make some moisture. If your furnace is experiencing difficulties discharging this water, it may make gurgling or bubbling sounds. You’ll require professional support for this trouble, 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 may mean a few things.
Haven’t scheduled maintenance recently and your furnace is making a banging sound when turning on? Its burners could be dirty. Dirty burners can stall ignition, which leads gas to accumulate inside your furnace.
All that increased gas can make a banging or booming racket when your furnace ultimately does ignite. But this is more than merely an irritating noise, because the accumulated gas is erupting within your furnace. This can break your furnace’s heat exchanger and make a dangerous carbon monoxide leak.
If you’ve forgotten regular tune-ups for your furnace and you’re hearing this noise, give Woody's Sudden Service a ring at 703-278-2036. Our heating specialists will get your furnace tuned up and make sure it’s working correctly.
Your ductwork can also produce banging sounds when your furnace switches on, because the metal is expanding and contracting.
We suggest 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 closed in your house, as it can force air pressure out of balance.
If neither of these things repair the issue, your ductwork could be dirty or undersized, which will require assistance from a professional HVAC technician.
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 create an irritating buzzing noise when your furnace starts. It could also mean there’s an issue with the capacitor or transformer. All three of these troubles need assistance from a professional heating and cooling company like Woody's Sudden Service.
Furnace Making Knocking Noise
If your furnace is making knocking sounds, it’s frequently a symptom that an internal piece is breaking down. This may be anything from a bearing to a belt or the gas valve. It can also be an indication that your burners are dirty.
These problems are usually 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 future.
Furnace Making Clicking Noise
A clicking sound may be the result of things: worn bearings, gas valve problems or ignition problems. All these problems need pro assistance.
At Woody's Sudden Service, our pros are here to help you enjoy peaceful, energy-efficient comfort. If your furnace is louder than normal or producing strange sounds, contact us at 703-278-2036 to schedule an appointment right away.