As your furnace turns on and prepares to heat your home, it’s typical for it to produce some noise. These sounds, including the burners firing up and the blower whirring, are all part of the typical start-up procedures.

But there are a few things you can do to make your furnace less noisy this winter.

1. Schedule Annual Furnace Maintenance

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

It can also help our pros find small issues that could make your furnace noisy. And possibly help you avoid a meltdown on the most frigid day of the year. The Indoor Air Quality Association reports that regular maintenance can reduce your chance of furnace meltdowns by up to 95%.

If little furnace problems go unnoticed, they may lead to trouble later on. By finding these issues sooner, our professionals can get your furnace fixed before heating season is at its peak.

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

2. Regularly Replace 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 often. Known as short cycling, this can cause your furnace to consume additional energy and make it break down faster.

Our advice for replacing your furnace filter:

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

You might have to change your filter more often if you have allergies or pets.

3. Get in Touch with Service Max Heating & Air Conditioning When Your Furnace Is Creating Odd Noises

Some furnaces, often older ones, can make more noise than others. But if you’re hearing very loud or odd noises, it may be time to contact a heating and cooling company like Service Max Heating & Air Conditioning for furnace repair in Arlington.

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

Furnace Making Gurgling or Bubbling Noise

This noise happens more frequently with high-efficiency furnaces. That’s because they discharge fumes dissimilarly than older furnaces, and the process can produce some moisture. If your furnace is running into difficulties discharging this water, it could make gurgling or bubbling sounds. You’ll want professional support for this problem, since it can 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 can mean several things.

Haven’t scheduled maintenance recently and your furnace is creating a banging sound when turning on? Its burners could be dirty. Dirty burners can hold up ignition, which results in gas accumulating in your furnace.

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

If you’ve neglected regular tune-ups for your furnace and you’re noticing this noise, give Service Max Heating & Air Conditioning a ring at 360-255-5857. Our heating pros will get your furnace tuned up and double-check it’s running correctly.

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

We suggest first checking your furnace’s air filter and getting a new one if it’s dirty. Next, ensure you don’t have too many vents sealed in your home, as it can throw off air pressure.

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

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 often seen with a faltering blower fan motor, which will produce a loud buzzing noise when your furnace starts. It may also mean there’s trouble with the capacitor or transformer. All three of these problems need help from an experienced heating and cooling company like Service Max Heating & Air Conditioning.

Furnace Making Knocking Noise

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

These problems are frequently uncovered during annual maintenance performed by a certified HVAC technician. So, while we’re at your home doing repairs, don’t forget to inquire about booking your maintenance appointment for the upcoming year.

Furnace Making Clicking Noise

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

At Service Max Heating & Air Conditioning, our professionals are here to help you enjoy peaceful, energy-efficient comfort. If your furnace is louder than it typically is or producing strange sounds, contact us at 360-255-5857 to get an appointment today.