As your furnace starts up and gets ready to add warmth to your home, it’s common for it to produce some noise. These sounds, including the burners firing up and the blower running, are all part of the usual start-up process.
But there are several things you can do to make your furnace run more quietly this winter.
1. Request Annual Furnace Maintenance
Furnace maintenance is very important, as it keeps your manufacturer warranty ongoing. This helps defend you if something huge goes wrong with your furnace during your warranty time.
It can also help our professionals discover small troubles that might make your furnace annoying. And maybe help you prevent a meltdown on the most frigid day of the year. The Indoor Air Quality Association reports that regular maintenance can decrease your likelihood of furnace meltdowns by up to 95%.
If little furnace troubles are left undetected, they might cause trouble down the road. By discovering these issues sooner, our technicians can get your furnace repaired before heating season is underway.
And, most critical, 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 energy bills, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
2. Regularly Change Your Furnace’s Air Filter
Your air filter helps keep your residence’s air fresh and clean. When it becomes too dirty, it can make your furnace turn on and off too often. Known as short cycling, this can cause your furnace to consume extra gas and make it wear out faster.
Our suggestions for installing a new furnace filter:
- Flat filter: Once a month
- Pleated filter: Every three months
You may have to install a new filter more often if you have allergies or pets.
3. Contact Three Rivers Heating & Cooling When Your Furnace is Creating Odd Noises
Some furnaces, often older ones, may be louder than others. But if you’re noticing exceedingly loud or strange noises, it may be time to contact a heating and cooling company like Three Rivers Heating & Cooling for furnace repair in Portland.
Here are a few noises to be on the lookout for, how to repair 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 produce some moisture. If your furnace is having difficulties discharging this water, it may make gurgling or bubbling sounds. You’ll need pro support for this problem, since it may be created by a blocked drain pipe or clogged drain pan.
Furnace Making Banging Noise
It’s not a good indicator when your furnace is making a banging sound. It may mean several things.
Haven’t scheduled maintenance recently and your furnace is producing a banging sound when turning on? Its burners might be dirty. Dirty burners can delay ignition, which results in gas accumulating within your furnace.
All that increased gas can cause a banging or booming sound when your furnace ultimately does ignite. But this is more than only an annoying noise, because the accumulated gas is exploding in your furnace. This can crack your furnace’s heat exchanger and make a life-threatening carbon monoxide leak.
If you’ve overlooked yearly maintenance for your furnace and you’re noticing this noise, give Three Rivers Heating & Cooling a call at 503-213-4433. Our heating specialists will get your furnace tuned up and make sure it’s working properly.
Your ductwork can also make banging sounds when your furnace starts, as the metal is expanding and contracting.
We suggest first inspecting your furnace’s air filter and replacing it if it’s filthy. Next, ensure you don’t have too many vents shut in your house, as it can force air pressure out of balance.
If neither of these steps fix the sound, your ductwork may be dirty or undersized, which will be a need for assistance from a pro HVAC specialist.
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 make an irritating buzzing noise when your furnace starts. It could also mean there’s an issue with the capacitor or transformer. All three of these problems call for help from a skilled heating and cooling company like Three Rivers Heating & Cooling.
Furnace Making Knocking Noise
If your furnace is making knocking sounds, it’s usually a symptom that an internal piece is going out. This can be anything from a bearing to a belt or the gas valve. It might also be a symptom that your burners need cleaning.
These troubles are usually unearthed during yearly maintenance done by a certified HVAC tech. So, while we’re at your residence working on repairs, don’t forget to ask us about requesting your maintenance appointment for next year.
Furnace Making Clicking Noise
A clicking sound may be created by things: worn bearings, gas valve issues or ignition issues. All these troubles require specialized assistance.
At Three Rivers Heating & Cooling, our specialists are here to help you enjoy tranquil, energy-efficient comfort. If your furnace is louder than normal or making odd sounds, contact us at 503-213-4433 to get an appointment right away.