As your furnace starts up and begins to add warmth to your residence, it’s expected for it to create some noise. These sounds, including the burners lighting and the blower operating, are all part of the normal start-up procedures.
But there are a couple of steps you can do to make your furnace quieter this winter.
1. Request Regular Furnace Maintenance
Furnace maintenance is very important, because it keeps your manufacturer warranty ongoing. This helps shield you if something big stops working in your furnace during your warranty period.
It can also help our pros spot small issues that might make your furnace annoying. And maybe help you sidestep a breakdown on the coldest day of the year. The Indoor Air Quality Association reports that routine maintenance can decrease your probability of furnace breakdowns by up to 95%.
If little furnace problems go ignored, they may lead to trouble down the road. By finding these issues sooner, our techs can get your furnace repaired before heating season is in full swing.
And most critical, pro 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 costs, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
2. Routinely Replace Your Furnace’s Air Filter
Your air filter helps keep your house’s air fresh and clean. When it turns too filthy, it can make your furnace turn on and off too often. Called short cycling, this can cause your furnace to use additional energy and make it stop working faster.
Our advice for changing your furnace filter:
- Flat filter: Monthly
- Pleated filter: Every three months
You might have to install a new filter more regularly if you have allergies or pets.
3. Call LTS Plumbing & Heating Inc. When Your Furnace Is Making Weird Noises
Some furnaces, particularly older ones, might be noisier than others. But if you’re noticing very loud or weird noises, it may be time to call a heating and cooling company like LTS Plumbing & Heating Inc. for furnace repair in Shamokin and Sunbury.
Here are a few noises to keep an eye out for, how to fix them and when to contact a pro.
Furnace Making Gurgling or Bubbling Noise
This noise is more common with high-efficiency furnaces. That’s because they exhaust fumes dissimilarly than older furnaces, and the process can make some moisture. If your furnace is having difficulties removing this water, it might make gurgling or bubbling sounds. You’ll require experienced support for this trouble, since it might be created by a blocked drain pipe or clogged drain pan.
Furnace Making Banging Noise
It’s not a positive thing when your furnace is making a banging sound. It can mean a few things.
Haven’t requested maintenance recently and your furnace is producing a banging sound when beginning? Its burners might be dirty. Dirty burners can stall ignition, which leads gas to accumulate in your furnace.
All that increased gas can make a banging or booming noise when your furnace eventually does ignite. But this is more than only an irritating noise, since the built-up gas is igniting within your furnace. This can break your furnace’s heat exchanger and make a life-threatening carbon monoxide leak.
If you’ve neglected regular maintenance for your furnace and you’re detecting this noise, give LTS Plumbing & Heating Inc. a ring at 570-648-0748. Our heating professionals will get your furnace tuned up and double-check it’s working correctly.
Your ductwork can also create banging sounds when your furnace switches on, since the metal is expanding and contracting.
We recommend first looking at your furnace’s air filter and replacing it if it’s clogged. Next, make sure you don’t have too many vents closed in your home, as it can force air pressure out of balance.
If neither of these methods repair the sound, your ductwork might be dirty or undersized, which will call for assistance from a skilled HVAC technician.
Furnace Making Humming or Buzzing Noise
If your furnace is buzzing or humming, it’s a symptom there’s electrical troubles. This is most frequently seen with a sputtering blower fan motor, which will create an irritating buzzing noise when your furnace switches on. It may also mean there’s a problem with the capacitor or transformer. All three of these problems need assistance from a professional heating and cooling company like LTS Plumbing & Heating Inc..
Furnace Making Knocking Noise
If your furnace is making knocking sounds, it’s typically a symptom that an internal component is dying. This could be anything from a bearing to a belt or the gas valve. It can also be a symptom that your burners need cleaning.
These troubles are frequently uncovered during yearly maintenance performed by a certified HVAC pro. So, while we’re at your residence working on repairs, don’t forget to ask us about requesting your maintenance appointment for next year.
Furnace Making Clicking Noise
A clicking sound can be the result of issues: worn bearings, gas valve problems or ignition problems. All these issues need pro help.
At LTS Plumbing & Heating Inc., our pros are here to help you relax in peaceful, energy-efficient comfort. If your furnace is louder than normal or producing weird sounds, contact us at 570-648-0748 to request an appointment right away.