As your furnace starts up and prepares to heat your residence, it’s expected for it to make some noise. These sounds, such as the burners igniting and the blower operating, are all part of the normal start-up process.
But there are a few things you can do to make your furnace run more quietly this winter.
1. Schedule Yearly Furnace Maintenance
Furnace maintenance is very important, as it keeps your manufacturer warranty in place. This helps shield you if something huge goes wrong with your furnace during your warranty period.
It can also help us discover minor issues that can make your furnace annoying. And maybe help you prevent a breakdown on the most frigid day of the year. The Indoor Air Quality Association reports that annual maintenance can decrease your chance of furnace breakdowns by up to 95%.
If little furnace issues go unnoticed, they can lead to a breakdown down the road. By discovering these troubles sooner, our pros can get your furnace fixed before heating season is underway.
And, most essential, specialized cleaning and lubrication of your furnace’s moving parts can help make it more efficient. A correctly maintained furnace could save up to 30% on your gas bills, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
2. Frequently Put in a New Furnace’s Air Filter
Your air filter helps keep your residence’s air fresh and clean. When it gets too dirty, it can make your furnace turn on and off more than it should. Referred to as short cycling, this can cause your furnace to use extra energy and make it wear out more quickly.
Our recommendations for installing a new furnace filter:
- Flat filter: Monthly
- Pleated filter: Every three months
You might have to get a new filter more frequently if you have allergies or pets.
3. Call Jett's Heating & Air Inc. When Your Furnace is Producing Strange Noises
Some furnaces, especially older ones, may be louder than others. But if you’re noticing extremely loud or odd noises, you might need to get in touch with a heating and cooling company like Jett's Heating & Air Inc. for furnace repair in McHenry.
Here are a few noises to be on the lookout for, how to take care of them and when to contact a specialist.
Furnace Making Gurgling or Bubbling Noise
This noise is more common with high-efficiency furnaces. That’s due to the fact they exhaust fumes dissimilarly older furnaces, and the process can make some moisture. If your furnace is having troubles removing this water, it might make gurgling or bubbling sounds. You’ll require pro help 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 sign when your furnace is making a banging sound. It might mean several things.
Haven’t scheduled maintenance this year and your furnace is making a banging sound when turning on? Its burners might be dirty. Dirty burners can stall ignition, which causes gas to accumulate within your furnace.
All that built-up gas can make a banging or booming racket when your furnace eventually does ignite. But this is more than just an annoying noise, since the built-up gas is igniting within your furnace. This can damage your furnace’s heat exchanger and cause a life-threatening carbon monoxide leak.
If you’ve neglected yearly service for your furnace and you’re hearing this noise, give Jett's Heating & Air Inc. a shout at 815-410-1128. Our heating professionals will get your furnace tuned up and double-check it’s operating accurately.
Your ductwork can also make banging sounds when your furnace starts, as the metal is expanding and contracting.
We suggest 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 force air pressure out of balance.
If neither of these methods take care of the problem, your ductwork might 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 electrical troubles. This is most usually seen with a sputtering blower fan motor, which will create a loud buzzing noise when your furnace turns on. It could also mean there’s trouble with the capacitor or transformer. All three of these problems call for support from a professional heating and cooling company like Jett's Heating & Air Inc..
Furnace Making Knocking Noise
If your furnace is making knocking sounds, it’s frequently an indication that an internal component is worn out. This might be anything from a bearing to a belt or the gas valve. It can also be a sign that your burners need cleaning.
These troubles are often caught during annual maintenance performed by a certified HVAC tech. So, while we’re at your home working on repairs, don’t forget to check with us about scheduling your maintenance appointment for the upcoming year.
Furnace Making Clicking Noise
A clicking sound can mean a couple of things: worn bearings, gas valve troubles or ignition troubles. All these issues need skilled support.
At Jett's Heating & Air Inc., our pros are here to help you enjoy quiet, energy-efficient comfort. If your furnace is louder than it usually is or making strange sounds, contact us at 815-410-1128 to get an appointment today.