As your furnace starts up and gets ready to heat your residence, it’s common for it to create some noise. These sounds, like the burners lighting and the blower running, are all part of the normal start-up procedures.

But there are a few steps you can do to make your furnace run more quietly this winter.

1. Request Regular Furnace Maintenance

Furnace maintenance is extremely important, as it keeps your manufacturer warranty in place. This helps protect you if something huge stops working in your furnace during your warranty period.

It can also help us find minor issues that can make your furnace annoying. And maybe help you sidestep a breakdown on the most frigid day of the year. The Indoor Air Quality Association reports that routine maintenance can decrease your probability of furnace malfunctions by up to 95%.

If minor furnace problems go unnoticed, they may cause trouble later on. By finding these troubles sooner, our pros can get your furnace fixed before heating season is underway.

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

2. Routinely Change Your Furnace’s Air Filter

Your air filter helps keep your home’s air fresh and clean. When it becomes 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 fuel and make it stop working faster.

Our suggestions for replacing your furnace filter:

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

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

3. Call Bishop’s HVAC When Your Furnace Is Creating Weird Noises

Some furnaces, particularly older ones, could make more noise than others. But if you’re noticing exceedingly loud or odd noises, you might need to get in touch with a heating and cooling company like Bishop’s HVAC for furnace repair in Sacramento.

Here are several noises to be on the lookout for, how to fix them and when to contact a specialist.

Furnace Making Gurgling or Bubbling Noise

This noise happens more frequently with high-efficiency furnaces. That’s due to the fact they discharge fumes in another way than older furnaces, and the process can produce some moisture. If your furnace is running into difficulties removing this water, it can make gurgling or bubbling sounds. You’ll require experienced support for this problem, since it could 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 might mean a couple of 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 inside your furnace.

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

If you’ve ignored regular tune-ups for your furnace and you’re noticing this noise, give Bishop’s HVAC a call at 916-591-6889. Our heating pros will get your furnace tuned up and make sure it’s running correctly.

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

We recommend first looking at your furnace’s air filter and replacing it if it’s clogged. Next, double-check you don’t have too many vents closed in your residence, as it can force air pressure out of balance.

If neither of these things repair the problem, your ductwork may be dirty or undersized, which will require assistance from a skilled HVAC technician.

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 dying blower fan motor, which will make an irritating buzzing noise when your furnace switches on. It can also mean there’s trouble with the capacitor or transformer. All three of these troubles need support from a skilled heating and cooling company like Bishop’s HVAC.

Furnace Making Knocking Noise

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

These problems are typically uncovered during annual maintenance performed by a certified HVAC technician. So, while we’re at your home performing repairs, don’t forget to ask us about requesting your maintenance appointment for the future.

Furnace Making Clicking Noise

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

At Bishop’s HVAC, our pros are here to help you relax in peaceful, energy-efficient comfort. If your furnace is louder than normal or producing strange sounds, contact us at 916-591-6889 to get an appointment today.