As your furnace starts up and begins to warm up your home, it’s typical for it to produce some noise. These sounds, including the burners igniting and the blower running, are all part of the normal start-up procedures.
But there are a couple of steps you can do to make your furnace run more quietly this winter.
1. Book Annual Furnace Maintenance
Furnace maintenance is very important, as 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 discover minor issues that might make your furnace annoying. And maybe help you prevent a breakdown on the chilliest day of the year. The Indoor Air Quality Association reports that annual maintenance can lower your probability of furnace malfunctions by up to 95%.
If small furnace issues go ignored, they may lead to trouble down the road. By unearthing these problems sooner, our techs can get your furnace repaired before heating season is underway.
And most important, professional cleaning and lubrication of your furnace’s moving pieces can help make it more efficient. A properly maintained furnace could save up to 30% on your heating expenses, 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 clogged, it can make your furnace turn on and off more than it should. Known as short cycling, this can cause your furnace to eat up additional energy and make it break down faster.
Our advice for changing your furnace filter:
- Flat filter: Once a month
- Pleated filter: Every three months
You could have to replace your filter more frequently if you have allergies or pets.
3. Contact Haselhoff Air Solutions When Your Furnace Is Making Strange Noises
Some furnaces, particularly older ones, might be louder than others. But if you’re noticing exceedingly loud or weird noises, you might need to call a heating and cooling company like Haselhoff Air Solutions for furnace repair in Ames.
Here are several 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 occurs more commonly with high-efficiency furnaces. That’s since they exhaust fumes in another way than older furnaces, and the process can make some moisture. If your furnace is running into difficulties draining this water, it might make gurgling or bubbling sounds. You’ll need skilled support for this trouble, since it may 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 requested maintenance recently and your furnace is producing a banging sound when starting? Its burners might be dirty. Dirty burners can stall ignition, which results in gas accumulating within your furnace.
All that built-up gas can create a banging or booming sound when your furnace ultimately does ignite. But this is more than merely an irritating noise, since the accumulated gas is exploding within your furnace. This can break your furnace’s heat exchanger and make a life-threatening carbon monoxide leak.
If you’ve ignored regular service for your furnace and you’re hearing this noise, give Haselhoff Air Solutions a shout at 515-450-8739. Our heating specialists will get your furnace tuned up and make sure it’s working correctly.
Your ductwork can also create banging sounds when your furnace starts, because the metal is expanding and contracting.
We advise first inspecting your furnace’s air filter and getting a new one if it’s filthy. Next, ensure you don’t have too many vents closed in your home, as it can make air pressure uneven.
If neither of these things repair the problem, your ductwork could be dirty or undersized, which will be a need for assistance from a professional HVAC tech.
Furnace Making Humming or Buzzing Noise
If your furnace is buzzing or humming, it’s a symptom there’s electrical troubles. This is most usually seen with a dying blower fan motor, which will create an irritating buzzing noise when your furnace starts. It might also mean there’s an issue with the capacitor or transformer. All three of these problems need support from a professional heating and cooling company like Haselhoff Air Solutions.
Furnace Making Knocking Noise
If your furnace is making knocking sounds, it’s usually a symptom that an internal piece is worn out. This could be anything from a bearing to a belt or the gas valve. It may also be a symptom that your burners need to be cleaned.
These issues are frequently uncovered during annual maintenance provided by a certified HVAC pro. So, while we’re at your house doing repairs, don’t forget to inquire about requesting your maintenance appointment for next year.
Furnace Making Clicking Noise
A clicking sound can be the result of things: worn bearings, gas valve problems or ignition problems. All these issues need skilled assistance.
At Haselhoff Air Solutions, our pros are here to help you enjoy peaceful, energy-efficient comfort. If your furnace is louder than it usually is or producing strange sounds, contact us at 515-450-8739 to schedule an appointment now.