As your furnace starts up and begins to heat your house, it’s normal for it to produce some noise. These sounds, including the burners lighting and the blower whirring, are all part of the typical start-up procedures.

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

1. Book Regular Furnace Maintenance

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

It can also help our pros uncover small issues that might make your furnace loud. And potentially help you prevent a malfunction on the most frigid day of the year. The Indoor Air Quality Association reports that routine maintenance can lower your likelihood of furnace breakdowns by up to 95%.

If little furnace issues go unnoticed, they may cause trouble later on. By unearthing these issues sooner, our professionals can get your furnace fixed before heating season is underway.

And most critical, pro cleaning and lubrication of your furnace’s moving parts can help make it more efficient. A correctly maintained furnace could save up to 30% on your gas costs, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

2. Regularly 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 too frequently. Referred to as short cycling, this can cause your furnace to use additional gas and make it break down 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 often if you have allergies or pets.

3. Contact James Heating & A/C, Inc When Your Furnace Is Creating Odd Noises

Some furnaces, particularly older ones, can be noisier than others. But if you’re noticing extremely loud or odd noises, you should contact a heating and cooling company like James Heating & A/C, Inc for furnace repair in Lexington.

Here are a couple of noises to keep an eye out for, how to fix them and when to contact a professional.

Furnace Making Gurgling or Bubbling Noise

This noise occurs more commonly with high-efficiency furnaces. That’s because they emit fumes dissimilarly than older furnaces, and the process can create some moisture. If your furnace is experiencing difficulties removing this water, it might make gurgling or bubbling sounds. You’ll need pro 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 positive thing when your furnace is making a banging sound. It could mean a couple of things.

Haven’t had maintenance done recently and your furnace is producing a banging sound when turning on? Its burners might be dirty. Dirty burners can stall ignition, which results in gas accumulating within your furnace.

All that increased gas can make a banging or booming sound when your furnace ultimately does ignite. But this is more than only an irritating noise, because the increased gas is exploding within your furnace. This can crack your furnace’s heat exchanger and make a deadly carbon monoxide leak.

If you’ve forgotten regular maintenance for your furnace and you’re hearing this noise, give James Heating & A/C, Inc a ring at 336-853-6070. Our heating specialists will get your furnace tuned up and make sure it’s running correctly.

Your ductwork can also make banging sounds when your furnace turns on, since 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 throw off air pressure.

If neither of these steps repair the problem, your ductwork might be dirty or undersized, which will require assistance from a pro HVAC specialist.

Furnace Making Humming or Buzzing Noise

If your furnace is buzzing or humming, it’s a sign there’s electrical troubles. This is most usually seen with a faltering blower fan motor, which will make a loud buzzing noise when your furnace switches on. It can also mean there’s an issue with the capacitor or transformer. All three of these problems need help from a skilled heating and cooling company like James Heating & A/C, Inc.

Furnace Making Knocking Noise

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

These problems are usually uncovered during annual maintenance performed by a certified HVAC tech. So, while we’re at your home doing repairs, don’t forget to ask us about scheduling your maintenance appointment for the upcoming year.

Furnace Making Clicking Noise

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

At James Heating & A/C, Inc, our experts are here to help you relax in peaceful, energy-efficient comfort. If your furnace is louder than it typically is or producing weird sounds, contact us at 336-853-6070 to request an appointment now.