As your furnace turns on and gets ready to add warmth to your home, it’s expected for it to create some noise. These sounds, such as the burners lighting and the blower running, are all part of the typical start-up process.
But there are a few things you can do to make your furnace quieter this winter.
1. Request Regular Furnace Maintenance
Furnace maintenance is extremely important, because it keeps your manufacturer warranty ongoing. This helps protect you if something huge stops working in your furnace during your warranty time.
It can also help our pros find small issues that might make your furnace noisy. And possibly help you sidestep a meltdown on the most frigid day of the year. The Indoor Air Quality Association reports that routine maintenance can reduce your probability of furnace breakdowns by up to 95%.
If little furnace issues go ignored, they may cause trouble in the future. By unearthing these troubles sooner, our pros can get your furnace fixed before heating season begins.
And most essential, 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 gas 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 gets too clogged, it can make your furnace turn on and off more than it should. Called short cycling, this can cause your furnace to use additional gas and make it break down faster.
Our recommendations for changing your furnace filter:
- Flat filter: Every month
- Pleated filter: Every three months
You could have to replace your filter more frequently if you have allergies or pets.
3. Get in Touch with 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 hearing very loud or strange noises, you should get in touch with a heating and cooling company like LTS Plumbing & Heating Inc. for furnace repair in Shamokin and Sunbury.
Here are a couple of noises to be looking for, how to fix them and when to get in touch with a pro.
Furnace Making Gurgling or Bubbling Noise
This noise occurs more commonly with high-efficiency furnaces. That’s due to the fact they discharge fumes dissimilarly than older furnaces, and the process can make some moisture. If your furnace is having difficulties discharging this water, it may make gurgling or bubbling sounds. You’ll want pro} 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 may mean a few things.
Haven’t scheduled maintenance recently and your furnace is creating a banging sound when turning on? Its burners might be dirty. Dirty burners can stall ignition, which causes gas to accumulate inside your furnace.
All that accumulated gas can make a banging or booming racket when your furnace eventually} does ignite. But this is more than only an irritating noise, as the accumulated gas is igniting within your furnace. This can break your furnace’s heat exchanger and cause a deadly carbon monoxide leak.
If you’ve ignored regular tune-ups for your furnace and you’re detecting this noise, give LTS Plumbing & Heating Inc. a shout at 570-648-0748. Our heating specialists will get your furnace tuned up and make sure it’s operating correctly.
Your ductwork can also produce banging sounds when your furnace switches on, because the metal is expanding and contracting.
We suggest first inspecting your furnace’s air filter and replacing it if it’s filthy. Next, make sure you don’t have too many vents sealed in your house, as it can throw off air pressure.
If neither of these methods repair the issue, your ductwork may be dirty or undersized, which will require assistance from a skilled 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 usually seen with a faltering blower fan motor, which will make an irritating buzzing noise when your furnace begins to heat. It may also mean there’s a problem with the capacitor or transformer. All three of these issues need support 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 breaking down. This may be anything from a bearing to a belt or the gas valve. It might also be an indication that your burners are dirty.
These issues are usually uncovered during regular maintenance provided by a certified HVAC professional. So, while we’re at your house doing repairs, don’t forget to check with us about requesting your maintenance appointment for the upcoming year.
Furnace Making Clicking Noise
A clicking sound might be the result of things: worn bearings, gas valve issues or ignition troubles. All these troubles need professional help.
At LTS Plumbing & Heating Inc., our professionals are here to help you enjoy peaceful, energy-efficient comfort. If your furnace is louder than it usually is or producing weird sounds, contact us at 570-648-0748 to request an appointment now.