As your furnace starts up and begins to add warmth to your home, it’s expected for it to make some noise. These sounds, like the burners lighting and the blower running, are all part of the normal start-up steps.

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

1. Schedule Yearly 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 time.

It can also help our professionals spot little issues that might make your furnace annoying. And possibly help you prevent a breakdown on the chilliest day of the year. The Indoor Air Quality Association reports that regular maintenance can decrease your likelihood of furnace breakdowns by up to 95%.

If minor furnace troubles go ignored, they may lead to trouble in the future. By finding these issues sooner, our technicians can get your furnace fixed before heating season is in full swing.

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

2. Routinely Install a New Furnace’s Air Filter

Your air filter helps keep your home’s air fresh and clean. When it turns too dirty, it can make your furnace turn on and off too frequently. Called short cycling, this can cause your furnace to consume additional fuel and make it wear out faster.

Our suggestions for installing a new furnace filter:

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

You could have to get a new filter more often if you have allergies or pets.

3. Contact Gilray Heating and Cooling When Your Furnace Is Producing Weird Noises

Some furnaces, particularly older ones, can be noisier than others. But if you’re noticing extremely loud or strange noises, you should get in touch with a heating and cooling company like Gilray Heating and Cooling for furnace repair in Wausau.

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

Furnace Making Gurgling or Bubbling Noise

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

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

All that accumulated gas can make a banging or booming noise when your furnace ultimately does ignite. But this is more than just an irritating noise, as the accumulated gas is exploding within your furnace. This can break your furnace’s heat exchanger and make a dangerous carbon monoxide leak.

If you’ve forgotten regular tune-ups for your furnace and you’re hearing this noise, give Gilray Heating and Cooling a shout at 715-301-0727. Our heating pros 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 inspecting your furnace’s air filter and getting a new one if it’s dirty. Next, make sure you don’t have too many vents shut in your home, as it can throw off air pressure.

If neither of these methods repair the problem, your ductwork might be dirty or undersized, which will call for assistance from a pro HVAC tech.

Furnace Making Humming or Buzzing Noise

If your furnace is buzzing or humming, it’s a flag there’s an electrical problem. This is most often seen with a sputtering blower fan motor, which will produce an irritating buzzing noise when your furnace begins to heat. It might also mean there’s a problem with the capacitor or transformer. All three of these issues need assistance from a skilled heating and cooling company like Gilray Heating and Cooling.

Furnace Making Knocking Noise

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

These issues are typically uncovered during annual maintenance done by a certified HVAC professional. So, while we’re at your house performing repairs, don’t forget to ask us about scheduling your maintenance appointment for next year.

Furnace Making Clicking Noise

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

At Gilray Heating and Cooling, our experts are here to help you enjoy peaceful, energy-efficient comfort. If your furnace is louder than it typically is or producing weird sounds, contact us at 715-301-0727 to get an appointment now.