As your furnace switches on and prepares to heat your house, it’s typical for it to make some noise. These sounds, like the burners firing up and the blower operating, are all part of the usual start-up process.

But there are a couple of approaches you can do to make your furnace quieter this winter.

1. Request Regular Furnace Maintenance

Furnace maintenance is highly important, since it keeps your manufacturer warranty in place. This helps protect you if something big stops working in your furnace during your warranty range.

It can also help us uncover minor issues that could make your furnace loud. And possibly help you avoid a malfunction on the most frigid day of the year. The Indoor Air Quality Association reports that annual maintenance can reduce your chance of furnace malfunctions by up to 95%.

If minor furnace troubles go ignored, they may cause trouble down the road. By uncovering these troubles sooner, our technicians can get your furnace fixed before heating season is underway.

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

2. Routinely Change 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. Called short cycling, this can cause your furnace to consume additional fuel and make it break down faster.

Our recommendations for replacing your furnace filter:

  • Flat filter: Once a month
  • Pleated filter: Every three months

You may have to change your filter more regularly if you have allergies or pets.

3. Call Gopher Heating and Air Conditioning When Your Furnace Is Producing Weird Noises

Some furnaces, particularly older ones, might be louder than others. But if you’re noticing extremely loud or weird noises, you might need to call a heating and cooling company like Gopher Heating and Air Conditioning for furnace repair in Savage.

Here are a few noises to be on the lookout for, how to solve them and when to get in touch with a professional.

Furnace Making Gurgling or Bubbling Noise

This noise occurs more commonly with high-efficiency furnaces. That’s since they discharge fumes in another way than older furnaces, and the process can produce some moisture. If your furnace is running into difficulties discharging this water, it may make gurgling or bubbling sounds. You’ll require experienced support for this issue, 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 could mean a couple of things.

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

All that built-up gas can cause a banging or booming sound when your furnace ultimately does ignite. But this is more than just an irritating noise, because the built-up gas is erupting within your furnace. This can damage your furnace’s heat exchanger and cause a deadly carbon monoxide leak.

If you’ve neglected regular tune-ups for your furnace and you’re hearing this noise, give Gopher Heating and Air Conditioning a ring at 952-373-0377. Our heating specialists will get your furnace tuned up and make sure it’s operating correctly.

Your ductwork can also create banging sounds when your furnace turns on, since the metal is expanding and contracting.

We advise first checking your furnace’s air filter and getting a new one if it’s filthy. Next, make sure you don’t have too many vents closed in your home, as it can make air pressure uneven.

If neither of these steps repair the issue, your ductwork might be dirty or undersized, which will be a need for assistance from a professional HVAC technician.

Furnace Making Humming or Buzzing Noise

If your furnace is buzzing or humming, it’s a symptom there’s electrical troubles. This is most frequently seen with a dying blower fan motor, which will make a loud buzzing noise when your furnace switches on. It may also mean there’s an issue with the capacitor or transformer. All three of these issues need support from a skilled heating and cooling company like Gopher Heating and Air Conditioning.

Furnace Making Knocking Noise

If your furnace is making knocking sounds, it’s frequently a symptom that an internal component is breaking down. This can be anything from a bearing to a belt or the gas valve. It can also be an indication that your burners need to be cleaned.

These troubles are often uncovered during regular maintenance provided by a certified HVAC tech. So, while we’re at your house performing repairs, don’t forget to ask us about booking your maintenance appointment for the upcoming year.

Furnace Making Clicking Noise

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

At Gopher Heating and Air Conditioning, our pros are here to help you relax in peaceful, energy-efficient comfort. If your furnace is louder than normal or producing odd sounds, contact us at 952-373-0377 to request an appointment today.