As your furnace turns on and gets ready to heat your residence, it’s typical for it to produce some noise. These sounds, including the burners firing up and the blower running, are all part of the normal start-up procedures.
But there are several steps you can do to make your furnace less noisy this winter.
1. Request Yearly Furnace Maintenance
Furnace maintenance is highly important, because it keeps your manufacturer warranty valid. This helps defend you if something major stops working in your furnace during your warranty range.
It can also help our pros spot little issues that can make your furnace noisy. And potentially help you avoid a malfunction on the most frigid day of the year. The Indoor Air Quality Association reports that routine maintenance can lower your probability of furnace meltdowns by up to 95%.
If small furnace troubles go unnoticed, they may result in trouble in the future. By uncovering these troubles sooner, our professionals can get your furnace fixed before heating season begins.
And most critical, professional cleaning and lubrication of your furnace’s moving components can help make it more efficient. A correctly maintained furnace could save up to 30% on your gas expenses, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
2. Routinely Put in a New Furnace’s Air Filter
Your air filter helps keep your home’s air fresh and clean. When it turns too filthy, it can make your furnace turn on and off too frequently. Referred to as short cycling, this can cause your furnace to eat up additional energy and make it wear out faster.
Our recommendations for replacing your furnace filter:
- Flat filter: Once a month
- Pleated filter: Every three months
You could have to get a new filter more often if you have allergies or pets.
3. Contact Connolly Electric & Mechanical When Your Furnace Is Making Odd Noises
Some furnaces, especially older ones, can make more noise than others. But if you’re hearing very loud or odd noises, you should get in touch with a heating and cooling company like Connolly Electric & Mechanical for furnace repair in Cottonwood & Prescott.
Here are several noises to be looking for, how to take care of them and when to call a pro.
Furnace Making Gurgling or Bubbling Noise
This noise is more common with high-efficiency furnaces. That’s since they discharge fumes dissimilarly than older furnaces, and the process can create some moisture. If your furnace is running into difficulties draining this water, it can make gurgling or bubbling sounds. You’ll need experienced 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 great thing when your furnace is making a banging sound. It could mean several things.
Haven’t requested maintenance recently and your furnace is producing a banging sound when turning on? Its burners might be dirty. Dirty burners can delay ignition, which leads gas to accumulate in your furnace.
All that accumulated gas can cause a banging or booming sound when your furnace finally does ignite. But this is more than only an irritating noise, because 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 ignored regular service for your furnace and you’re noticing this noise, give Connolly Electric & Mechanical a shout at 928-251-4327. Our heating professionals will get your furnace tuned up and ensure it’s operating correctly.
Your ductwork can also create banging sounds when your furnace starts, since the metal is expanding and contracting.
We recommend first inspecting your furnace’s air filter and replacing it if it’s dirty. Next, ensure you don’t have too many vents sealed in your home, as it can throw off air pressure.
If neither of these steps repair the problem, your ductwork might be dirty or undersized, which will be a need for assistance from a professional 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 make a loud buzzing noise when your furnace switches on. It could also mean there’s an issue with the capacitor or transformer. All three of these troubles need help from a skilled heating and cooling company like Connolly Electric & Mechanical.
Furnace Making Knocking Noise
If your furnace is making knocking sounds, it’s often a symptom that an internal component is dying. This may be anything from a bearing to a belt or the gas valve. It could also be an indication that your burners are dirty.
These troubles are frequently uncovered during annual maintenance done by a certified HVAC professional. So, while we’re at your home performing repairs, don’t forget to inquire about scheduling your maintenance appointment for the upcoming year.
Furnace Making Clicking Noise
A clicking sound could be the result of troubles: worn bearings, gas valve issues or ignition issues. All these troubles need pro help.
At Connolly Electric & Mechanical, our specialists 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 928-251-4327 to request an appointment today.
