As your furnace turns on and begins to add warmth to your home, it’s typical for it to produce some noise. These sounds, like the burners igniting and the blower whirring, are all part of the usual start-up process.

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

1. Request Annual Furnace Maintenance

Furnace maintenance is very important, since it keeps your manufacturer warranty valid. This helps shield you if something huge stops working in your furnace during your warranty range.

It can also help us spot minor issues that could make your furnace annoying. And possibly help you avoid a malfunction on the coldest day of the year. The Indoor Air Quality Association reports that annual maintenance can decrease your likelihood of furnace malfunctions by up to 95%.

If small furnace troubles go ignored, they may cause trouble down the road. By discovering these troubles sooner, our techs can get your furnace fixed before heating season is in full swing.

And most important, specialized cleaning and lubrication of your furnace’s moving pieces 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 becomes too clogged, it can make your furnace turn on and off too often. Known as short cycling, this can cause your furnace to eat up additional gas and make it break down faster.

Our recommendations for changing your furnace filter:

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

You could have to replace your filter more frequently if you have allergies or pets.

3. Get in Touch with Age Heating & Cooling When Your Furnace Is Producing Odd Noises

Some furnaces, especially older ones, might be noisier than others. But if you’re noticing extremely loud or odd noises, it may be time to call a heating and cooling company like Age Heating & Cooling for furnace repair in Sandpoint.

Here are several noises to be on the lookout for, how to take care of 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 running into difficulties draining this water, it may make gurgling or bubbling sounds. You’ll need professional support for this trouble, since it can be created by a blocked drain pipe or clogged drain pan.

Furnace Making Banging Noise

It’s not a great thing when your furnace is making a banging sound. It may mean a couple of things.

Haven’t had maintenance done recently and your furnace is making a banging sound when starting? Its burners could be dirty. Dirty burners can hold up ignition, which leads gas to accumulate in your furnace.

All that increased gas can create a banging or booming racket when your furnace finally does ignite. But this is more than only an irritating noise, since the built-up gas is erupting within your furnace. This can crack your furnace’s heat exchanger and cause a life-threatening carbon monoxide leak.

If you’ve neglected regular maintenance for your furnace and you’re detecting this noise, give Age Heating & Cooling a ring at 208-603-2210. Our heating specialists will get your furnace tuned up and ensure it’s running correctly.

Your ductwork can also create banging sounds when your furnace turns on, since 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 methods repair the problem, your ductwork may 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 sign there’s an electrical problem. This is most usually seen with a faltering blower fan motor, which will make a loud buzzing noise when your furnace begins to heat. It can 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 Age Heating & Cooling.

Furnace Making Knocking Noise

If your furnace is making knocking sounds, it’s usually a symptom that an internal part 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 are dirty.

These problems are often uncovered during annual maintenance performed by a certified HVAC tech. So, while we’re at your house performing repairs, don’t forget to inquire about requesting your maintenance appointment for the upcoming year.

Furnace Making Clicking Noise

A clicking sound can be the result of problems: worn bearings, gas valve issues or ignition issues. All these problems need specialized assistance.

At Age Heating & Cooling, our experts are here to help you unwind in peaceful, energy-efficient comfort. If your furnace is louder than normal or producing strange sounds, contact us at 208-603-2210 to get an appointment now.