As your furnace switches on and prepares to warm up your residence, it’s typical for it to make some noise. These sounds, including the burners firing up and the blower whirring, are all part of the normal start-up steps.
But there are a few approaches you can do to make your furnace quieter this winter.
1. Book Annual Furnace Maintenance
Furnace maintenance is highly important, because it keeps your manufacturer warranty in place. This helps protect you if something major malfunctions in your furnace during your warranty range.
It can also help our professionals discover little issues that can make your furnace annoying. And potentially help you prevent a breakdown on the coldest day of the year. The Indoor Air Quality Association reports that annual maintenance can reduce your likelihood of furnace meltdowns by up to 95%.
If small furnace problems keep on being ignored, they may lead to a malfunction later on. By uncovering these problems sooner, our pros can get your furnace repaired before heating season begins.
And, most essential, pro cleaning and lubrication of your furnace’s moving pieces can help make it more efficient. A correctly maintained furnace could save up to 30% on your utility costs, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
2. Regularly Change Your Furnace’s Air Filter
Your air filter helps keep your home’s air fresh and clean. When it gets too dirty, it can make your furnace turn on and off more than it should. Called short cycling, this can cause your furnace to eat up additional fuel and make it break down faster.
Our recommendations for changing your furnace filter:
- Flat filter: Every month
- Pleated filter: Every three months
You may have to replace your filter more regularly if you have allergies or pets.
3. Get in Touch with Precision Mechanical When Your Furnace is Creating Strange Noises
Some furnaces, especially older ones, might be louder than others. But if you’re detecting extremely loud or strange noises, it may be time to contact a heating and cooling company like Precision Mechanical for furnace repair in Rapid City.
Here are a few noises to keep an eye out for, how to fix them and when to call a specialist.
Furnace Making Gurgling or Bubbling Noise
This noise occurs more commonly with high-efficiency furnaces. That’s because they exhaust fumes in another way than older furnaces, and the process can create some moisture. If your furnace is running into difficulties removing this water, it might make gurgling or bubbling sounds. You’ll need skilled help for this trouble, since it could be caused by a blocked drain pipe or clogged drain pan.
Furnace Making Banging Noise
It’s not a good thing when your furnace is making a banging sound. It might mean several things.
Haven’t had maintenance done this year and your furnace is producing a banging sound when beginning? Its burners might be dirty. Dirty burners can hold up ignition, which causes gas to accumulate within your furnace.
All that built-up gas can cause a banging or booming racket when your furnace eventually does ignite. But this is more than just a bothersome noise, as the increased gas is igniting inside your furnace. This can damage your furnace’s heat exchanger and cause a dangerous carbon monoxide leak.
If you’ve neglected yearly tune-ups for your furnace and you’re noticing this noise, give Precision Mechanical a call at 605-206-3766. Our heating pros will get your furnace tuned up and make sure it’s working properly.
Your ductwork can also produce banging sounds when your furnace turns on, since the metal is expanding and contracting.
We recommend first checking your furnace’s air filter and replacing it if it’s clogged. Next, make sure you don’t have too many vents sealed in your home, as it can throw off air pressure.
If neither of these methods repair the issue, your ductwork could be dirty or undersized, which will be a need 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 an electrical issue. This is most often seen with a dying blower fan motor, which will produce a loud buzzing noise when your furnace switches on. It can also mean there’s trouble with the capacitor or transformer. All three of these troubles call for support from a professional heating and cooling company like Precision Mechanical.
Furnace Making Knocking Noise
If your furnace is making knocking sounds, it’s frequently a symptom that an internal part is breaking down. This could be anything from a bearing to a belt or the gas valve. It could also be a sign that your burners are dirty.
These troubles are typically unearthed during yearly maintenance performed by a certified HVAC tech. So, while we’re at your home performing repairs, don’t forget to check with us about scheduling your maintenance appointment for next year.
Furnace Making Clicking Noise
A clicking sound might be the result of troubles: worn bearings, gas valve troubles or ignition issues. All these troubles require pro support.
At Precision Mechanical, our professionals are here to help you enjoy tranquil, energy-efficient comfort. If your furnace is louder than normal or making weird sounds, contact us at 605-206-3766 to book an appointment right away.