As your furnace turns on and prepares to warm up your house, it’s expected for it to create some noise. These sounds, such as the burners lighting and the blower whirring, are all part of the usual start-up steps.

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

1. Book Regular Furnace Maintenance

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

It can also help our professionals spot minor issues that can make your furnace noisy. And maybe help you prevent a malfunction on the coldest day of the year. The Indoor Air Quality Association reports that annual maintenance can lower your chance of furnace malfunctions by up to 95%.

If little furnace troubles go unnoticed, they may result in trouble down the road. By uncovering these troubles sooner, our professionals can get your furnace fixed before heating season is at its peak.

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

2. Regularly Install a New Furnace’s Air Filter

Your air filter helps keep your residence’s air fresh and clean. When it becomes too clogged, it can make your furnace turn on and off too often. Called short cycling, this can cause your furnace to eat up additional energy and make it wear out faster.

Our advice for replacing your furnace filter:

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

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

3. Get in Touch with Enertek Air Conditioning & Heating When Your Furnace Is Producing Strange Noises

Some furnaces, especially older ones, could make more noise than others. But if you’re hearing extremely loud or weird noises, you might need to get in touch with a heating and cooling company like Enertek Air Conditioning & Heating for furnace repair in Northridge.

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

Furnace Making Gurgling or Bubbling Noise

This noise is more common with high-efficiency furnaces. That’s since they discharge fumes differently than older furnaces, and the process can make some moisture. If your furnace is having difficulties discharging this water, it can make gurgling or bubbling sounds. You’ll need professional support for this problem, since it may 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 can mean several things.

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

All that increased gas can create a banging or booming sound when your furnace finally does ignite. But this is more than just an irritating noise, because the built-up gas is igniting within your furnace. This can damage your furnace’s heat exchanger and create a life-threatening carbon monoxide leak.

If you’ve ignored regular tune-ups for your furnace and you’re hearing this noise, give Enertek Air Conditioning & Heating a ring at (818) 727-9993. Our heating pros will get your furnace tuned up and double-check it’s working correctly.

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

We recommend first checking your furnace’s air filter and replacing it if it’s clogged. Next, double-check you don’t have too many vents sealed in your house, as it can make air pressure uneven.

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

Furnace Making Humming or Buzzing Noise

If your furnace is buzzing or humming, it’s a symptom there’s an electrical issue. This is most often seen with a dying blower fan motor, which will create an irritating buzzing noise when your furnace starts. It can also mean there’s trouble with the capacitor or transformer. All three of these problems need assistance from an experienced heating and cooling company like Enertek Air Conditioning & Heating.

Furnace Making Knocking Noise

If your furnace is making knocking sounds, it’s often a symptom that an internal piece is worn out. This can be anything from a bearing to a belt or the gas valve. It could also be a sign that your burners need cleaning.

These troubles are often uncovered during regular maintenance performed by a certified HVAC pro. So, while we’re at your home doing repairs, don’t forget to check with us about scheduling your maintenance appointment for next year.

Furnace Making Clicking Noise

A clicking sound may be the result of issues: worn bearings, gas valve problems or ignition issues. All these troubles need pro help.

At Enertek Air Conditioning & Heating, our experts are here to help you unwind in peaceful, energy-efficient comfort. If your furnace is louder than normal or producing weird sounds, contact us at (818) 727-9993 to schedule an appointment today.