As your furnace starts up and gets ready to warm up your house, it’s common for it to make some noise. These sounds, like the burners igniting and the blower running, are all part of the usual start-up process.

But there are several steps you can do to make your furnace quieter this winter.

1. Schedule Annual Furnace Maintenance

Furnace maintenance is very important, because it keeps your manufacturer warranty ongoing. This helps defend you if something big stops working in your furnace during your warranty time.

It can also help us spot little issues that could make your furnace loud. And maybe help you prevent a meltdown on the chilliest day of the year. The Indoor Air Quality Association reports that annual maintenance can decrease your chance of furnace breakdowns by up to 95%.

If minor furnace issues go undetected, they may lead to trouble later on. By finding these issues sooner, our technicians can get your furnace taken care of before heating season is in full swing.

And most important, professional cleaning and lubrication of your furnace’s moving components can help make it more efficient. A properly maintained furnace could save up to 30% on your utility expenses, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

2. Routinely Put in a New Furnace’s Air Filter

Your air filter helps keep your house’s air fresh and clean. When it turns too filthy, it can make your furnace turn on and off more than it should. Called short cycling, this can cause your furnace to consume additional energy and make it wear out faster.

Our advice for installing a new furnace filter:

  • Flat filter: Monthly
  • Pleated filter: Every three months

You might have to install a new filter more frequently if you have allergies or pets.

3. Call Lanz Furnace and Fireplace When Your Furnace Is Making Strange Noises

Some furnaces, particularly older ones, may make more noise than others. But if you’re hearing extremely loud or weird noises, you might need to get in touch with a heating and cooling company like Lanz Furnace and Fireplace for furnace repair in Monroe.

Here are a few noises to be looking for, how to repair them and when to contact a professional.

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 experiencing difficulties discharging this water, it could make gurgling or bubbling sounds. You’ll want pro support for this problem, since it might be created 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 could mean several things.

Haven’t scheduled maintenance recently and your furnace is creating a banging sound when beginning? Its burners may be dirty. Dirty burners can hold up ignition, which causes gas to accumulate within your furnace.

All that accumulated gas can cause a banging or booming racket when your furnace ultimately does ignite. But this is more than just an irritating noise, since the accumulated gas is exploding within your furnace. This can crack your furnace’s heat exchanger and create a dangerous carbon monoxide leak.

If you’ve overlooked regular service for your furnace and you’re noticing this noise, give Lanz Furnace and Fireplace a shout at 608-291-3606. Our heating specialists will get your furnace tuned up and double-check it’s working correctly.

Your ductwork can also create banging sounds when your furnace starts, as the metal is expanding and contracting.

We recommend first inspecting your furnace’s air filter and installing a new one if it’s clogged. Next, double-check you don’t have too many vents sealed in your residence, as it can make air pressure uneven.

If neither of these steps repair the issue, your ductwork could be dirty or undersized, which will be a need for 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 faltering blower fan motor, which will produce an annoying buzzing noise when your furnace turns on. It could also mean there’s a problem with the capacitor or transformer. All three of these problems need help from a professional heating and cooling company like Lanz Furnace and Fireplace.

Furnace Making Knocking Noise

If your furnace is making knocking sounds, it’s usually a symptom that an internal component is breaking down. This could be anything from a bearing to a belt or the gas valve. It might also be a sign that your burners are dirty.

These troubles are often uncovered during regular maintenance performed 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 the upcoming year.

Furnace Making Clicking Noise

A clicking sound could be the result of problems: worn bearings, gas valve problems or ignition troubles. All these issues need skilled help.

At Lanz Furnace and Fireplace, our specialists are here to help you enjoy peaceful, energy-efficient comfort. If your furnace is louder than it typically is or producing odd sounds, contact us at 608-291-3606 to get an appointment now.