As your furnace turns on and prepares to warm up your home, it’s typical for it to make some noise. These sounds, like the burners lighting and the blower operating, are all part of the typical start-up steps.
But there are a couple of approaches you can do to make your furnace less noisy this winter.
1. Schedule Yearly Furnace Maintenance
Furnace maintenance is extremely important, because it keeps your manufacturer warranty ongoing. This helps protect you if something major stops working in your furnace during your warranty time.
It can also help our professionals find minor issues that could make your furnace annoying. And possibly help you sidestep a meltdown on the chilliest day of the year. The Indoor Air Quality Association reports that annual maintenance can reduce your likelihood of furnace malfunctions by up to 95%.
If minor furnace troubles go unnoticed, they may cause trouble in the future. By finding these issues sooner, our techs can get your furnace fixed before heating season is at its peak.
And most critical, specialized 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 energy 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 house’s air fresh and clean. When it turns 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 consume additional fuel and make it stop working faster.
Our advice for changing your furnace filter:
- Flat filter: Once a month
- Pleated filter: Every three months
You may have to replace your filter more often if you have allergies or pets.
3. Call Allstar Heating & Air Conditioning When Your Furnace Is Producing Strange Noises
Some furnaces, especially older ones, could be louder than others. But if you’re hearing extremely loud or odd noises, you might need to call a heating and cooling company like Allstar Heating & Air Conditioning for furnace repair in Buellton.
Here are several noises to keep an eye out for, how to take care of them and when to contact a professional.
Furnace Making Gurgling or Bubbling Noise
This noise occurs more commonly with high-efficiency furnaces. That’s since they exhaust fumes differently than older furnaces, and the process can make some moisture. If your furnace is having difficulties draining this water, it could make gurgling or bubbling sounds. You’ll require experienced} support for this problem, 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 scheduled maintenance recently and your furnace is making a banging sound when beginning? Its burners could be dirty. Dirty burners can delay ignition, which results in gas accumulating in your furnace.
All that built-up gas can create a banging or booming sound when your furnace eventually} does ignite. But this is more than only an irritating noise, as the accumulated gas is exploding within your furnace. This can break your furnace’s heat exchanger and create a dangerous carbon monoxide leak.
If you’ve overlooked regular tune-ups for your furnace and you’re hearing this noise, give Allstar Heating & Air Conditioning a call at 805-242-9638. Our heating pros will get your furnace tuned up and ensure it’s operating correctly.
Your ductwork can also make banging sounds when your furnace starts, since the metal is expanding and contracting.
We advise first inspecting your furnace’s air filter and getting a new one if it’s dirty. Next, make sure you don’t have too many vents shut in your residence, as it can force air pressure out of balance.
If neither of these methods repair the issue, your ductwork might be dirty or undersized, which will be a need for assistance from a pro HVAC tech.
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 frequently seen with a sputtering blower fan motor, which will produce a loud buzzing noise when your furnace starts. It may also mean there’s trouble with the capacitor or transformer. All three of these problems need support from an experienced heating and cooling company like Allstar Heating & Air Conditioning.
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 may also be an indication that your burners are dirty.
These issues are often uncovered during annual maintenance provided by a certified HVAC professional. So, while we’re at your house working on repairs, don’t forget to ask us about booking your maintenance appointment for the upcoming year.
Furnace Making Clicking Noise
A clicking sound could be the result of troubles: worn bearings, gas valve problems or ignition issues. All these problems need specialized assistance.
At Allstar Heating & Air Conditioning, our experts are here to help you enjoy peaceful, energy-efficient comfort. If your furnace is louder than it typically is or producing strange sounds, contact us at 805-242-9638 to request an appointment now.