As your furnace turns on and prepares to heat your residence, it’s typical for it to create some noise. These sounds, like the burners lighting and the blower running, are all part of the typical start-up steps.
But there are a few things you can do to make your furnace quieter this winter.
1. Book Annual Furnace Maintenance
Furnace maintenance is extremely important, since it keeps your manufacturer warranty in place. This helps shield you if something big stops working in your furnace during your warranty range.
It can also help our professionals uncover minor issues that could make your furnace annoying. And possibly help you prevent a malfunction 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 little furnace issues go unnoticed, they may cause trouble down the road. By finding these problems sooner, our technicians can get your furnace repaired before heating season is in full swing.
And most essential, pro 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 heating bills, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
2. Regularly Put in a New Furnace’s Air Filter
Your air filter helps keep your house’s air fresh and clean. When it becomes 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 gas and make it stop working faster.
Our advice for installing a new furnace filter:
- Flat filter: Once a month
- Pleated filter: Every three months
You might have to change your filter more frequently if you have allergies or pets.
3. Call Kohles & Bach Heating & Cooling When Your Furnace Is Creating Odd Noises
Some furnaces, especially older ones, might make more noise than others. But if you’re hearing exceedingly loud or odd noises, it may be time to contact a heating and cooling company like Kohles & Bach Heating & Cooling for furnace repair in Des Moines.
Here are several noises to keep an eye out for, how to solve them and when to contact a specialist.
Furnace Making Gurgling or Bubbling Noise
This noise happens more frequently with high-efficiency furnaces. That’s since they discharge fumes in another way than older furnaces, and the process can make some moisture. If your furnace is experiencing difficulties draining this water, it might make gurgling or bubbling sounds. You’ll want skilled} support for this problem, since it could 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 producing a banging sound when starting? Its burners could be dirty. Dirty burners can delay ignition, which results in gas accumulating within your furnace.
All that accumulated gas can make a banging or booming racket when your furnace ultimately} does ignite. But this is more than merely an irritating noise, since the increased gas is igniting within your furnace. This can break your furnace’s heat exchanger and create a deadly carbon monoxide leak.
If you’ve neglected regular service for your furnace and you’re detecting this noise, give Kohles & Bach Heating & Cooling a ring at 515-207-6569. Our heating professionals will get your furnace tuned up and make sure it’s running correctly.
Your ductwork can also create banging sounds when your furnace starts, because the metal is expanding and contracting.
We recommend first inspecting your furnace’s air filter and getting a new one if it’s clogged. Next, make sure you don’t have too many vents sealed in your home, as it can force air pressure out of balance.
If neither of these things repair the sound, your ductwork may be dirty or undersized, which will require assistance from a pro HVAC technician.
Furnace Making Humming or Buzzing Noise
If your furnace is buzzing or humming, it’s a sign there’s electrical troubles. This is most often seen with a dying blower fan motor, which will make a loud buzzing noise when your furnace starts. It could also mean there’s a problem with the capacitor or transformer. All three of these problems need support from a professional heating and cooling company like Kohles & Bach Heating & Cooling.
Furnace Making Knocking Noise
If your furnace is making knocking sounds, it’s usually a symptom that an internal piece is worn out. This might be anything from a bearing to a belt or the gas valve. It might also be a symptom that your burners are dirty.
These issues are frequently uncovered during annual maintenance provided by a certified HVAC pro. So, while we’re at your residence working on repairs, don’t forget to inquire about requesting your maintenance appointment for the upcoming year.
Furnace Making Clicking Noise
A clicking sound may be the result of things: worn bearings, gas valve troubles or ignition issues. All these problems need skilled help.
At Kohles & Bach Heating & Cooling, our pros are here to help you relax in peaceful, energy-efficient comfort. If your furnace is louder than normal or producing weird sounds, contact us at 515-207-6569 to request an appointment now.