As your furnace starts up and gets ready to heat your residence, it’s common 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 several things you can do to make your furnace quieter this winter.

1. Request Regular Furnace Maintenance

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

It can also help our professionals spot minor issues that might make your furnace noisy. And maybe help you avoid a meltdown on the coldest day of the year. The Indoor Air Quality Association reports that annual maintenance can decrease your likelihood of furnace breakdowns by up to 95%.

If little furnace problems go ignored, they may cause trouble down the road. By unearthing these issues sooner, our technicians can get your furnace fixed before heating season is underway.

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

2. Frequently Install a New Furnace’s Air Filter

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

Our suggestions for installing a new furnace filter:

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

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

3. Call GV Heating & Air When Your Furnace Is Creating Strange Noises

Some furnaces, especially older ones, may make more noise than others. But if you’re noticing extremely loud or weird noises, you might need to call a heating and cooling company like GV Heating & Air for furnace repair in Crystal and Twin Cities.

Here are a few noises to keep an eye out for, how to take care of them and when to call a specialist.

Furnace Making Gurgling or Bubbling Noise

This noise is more common with high-efficiency furnaces. That’s because they emit fumes differently than older furnaces, and the process can make some moisture. If your furnace is running into difficulties draining this water, it can 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 could mean a few things.

Haven’t requested maintenance recently and your furnace is creating a banging sound when turning on? Its burners may be dirty. Dirty burners can hold up ignition, which leads gas to accumulate within your furnace.

All that accumulated gas can make a banging or booming racket when your furnace eventually does ignite. But this is more than just an irritating noise, since the built-up gas is erupting within your furnace. This can break 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 hearing this noise, give GV Heating & Air a call at 763-535-2000. Our heating professionals will get your furnace tuned up and make sure it’s working correctly.

Your ductwork can also produce banging sounds when your furnace switches on, since the metal is expanding and contracting.

We suggest first checking your furnace’s air filter and getting a new one if it’s filthy. Next, double-check you don’t have too many vents closed in your residence, as it can make air pressure uneven.

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

Furnace Making Humming or Buzzing Noise

If your furnace is buzzing or humming, it’s a symptom there’s electrical troubles. This is most usually seen with a faltering blower fan motor, which will make a loud buzzing noise when your furnace turns on. It could also mean there’s trouble with the capacitor or transformer. All three of these issues need support from an experienced heating and cooling company like GV Heating & Air.

Furnace Making Knocking Noise

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

These problems are usually uncovered during annual maintenance done by a certified HVAC professional. So, while we’re at your residence doing repairs, don’t forget to inquire about booking your maintenance appointment for the future.

Furnace Making Clicking Noise

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

At GV Heating & Air, our experts 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 763-535-2000 to request an appointment right away.