As your furnace turns on and begins to add warmth to your house, it’s typical for it to make some noise. These sounds, including the burners igniting and the blower operating, are all part of the usual start-up process.

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

1. Book Annual Furnace Maintenance

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

It can also help us uncover minor issues that could make your furnace noisy. And potentially help you prevent a breakdown on the coldest day of the year. The Indoor Air Quality Association reports that regular maintenance can decrease your probability of furnace meltdowns by up to 95%.

If small furnace problems go ignored, they may result in trouble in the future. By finding these problems sooner, our technicians can get your furnace taken care of before heating season is at its peak.

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

2. Regularly Put in 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. Known as short cycling, this can cause your furnace to consume additional fuel and make it stop working faster.

Our advice for replacing your furnace filter:

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

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

3. Contact Precision Mechanical When Your Furnace Is Making Strange Noises

Some furnaces, often older ones, may make more noise than others. But if you’re noticing extremely loud or odd noises, you might need to get in touch with a heating and cooling company like Precision Mechanical for furnace repair in Rapid City.

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

Furnace Making Gurgling or Bubbling Noise

This noise is more common with high-efficiency furnaces. That’s since they emit fumes dissimilarly than older furnaces, and the process can create some moisture. If your furnace is running into difficulties draining this water, it can make gurgling or bubbling sounds. You’ll want pro 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 great 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 creating a banging sound when starting? Its burners can be dirty. Dirty burners can stall ignition, which results in gas accumulating in your furnace.

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

If you’ve overlooked regular maintenance for your furnace and you’re noticing this noise, give Precision Mechanical a shout at 605-206-3766. Our heating specialists 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 recommend first inspecting your furnace’s air filter and getting a new one if it’s dirty. Next, ensure you don’t have too many vents shut 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 call for assistance from a pro 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 usually seen with a sputtering blower fan motor, which will create a loud buzzing noise when your furnace switches on. It might also mean there’s trouble with the capacitor or transformer. All three of these troubles need help from a skilled heating and cooling company like Precision Mechanical.

Furnace Making Knocking Noise

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

These problems are often uncovered during annual maintenance done by a certified HVAC pro. So, while we’re at your residence performing repairs, don’t forget to check with us about scheduling your maintenance appointment for the future.

Furnace Making Clicking Noise

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

At Precision Mechanical, our experts are here to help you relax in peaceful, energy-efficient comfort. If your furnace is louder than normal or producing odd sounds, contact us at 605-206-3766 to request an appointment right away.