As your furnace turns on and gets ready to heat your house, it’s typical for it to make some noise. These sounds, including the burners lighting and the blower operating, are all part of the usual start-up steps.

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

1. Book Annual Furnace Maintenance

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

It can also help our professionals spot minor issues that could make your furnace noisy. And potentially help you prevent a malfunction on the chilliest 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 minor furnace issues go unnoticed, they may result in trouble down the road. By finding these issues sooner, our pros can get your furnace repaired before heating season is at its peak.

And most essential, professional 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 expenses, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

2. Routinely 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 more than it should. Referred to as short cycling, this can cause your furnace to use additional energy and make it break down faster.

Our recommendations for replacing your furnace filter:

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

You may have to install a new filter more frequently if you have allergies or pets.

3. Contact Tri City Fuel & Heating When Your Furnace Is Producing Strange Noises

Some furnaces, particularly older ones, might be noisier than others. But if you’re noticing very loud or strange noises, it may be time to call a heating and cooling company like Tri City Fuel & Heating for furnace repair in West Columbia.

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 occurs more commonly with high-efficiency furnaces. That’s since they discharge fumes in another way than older furnaces, and the process can create some moisture. If your furnace is having difficulties draining this water, it might make gurgling or bubbling sounds. You’ll require pro support for this issue, since it can be created by a blocked drain pipe or clogged drain pan.

Furnace Making Banging Noise

It’s not a positive 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 producing a banging sound when turning on? Its burners could be dirty. Dirty burners can stall ignition, which causes gas to accumulate in your furnace.

All that accumulated gas can cause a banging or booming racket when your furnace eventually does ignite. But this is more than just an irritating noise, since the accumulated gas is igniting within your furnace. This can break your furnace’s heat exchanger and make a life-threatening carbon monoxide leak.

If you’ve neglected regular maintenance for your furnace and you’re hearing this noise, give Tri City Fuel & Heating a call at 803-265-4208. Our heating professionals will get your furnace tuned up and make sure it’s working correctly.

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

We suggest first checking your furnace’s air filter and installing a new one if it’s dirty. Next, make sure you don’t have too many vents shut in your residence, as it can throw off air pressure.

If neither of these steps 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 sign there’s an electrical problem. This is most often seen with a sputtering blower fan motor, which will create a loud buzzing noise when your furnace begins to heat. It could also mean there’s trouble with the capacitor or transformer. All three of these issues need assistance from a skilled heating and cooling company like Tri City Fuel & Heating.

Furnace Making Knocking Noise

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

These issues are typically uncovered during regular maintenance done by a certified HVAC technician. So, while we’re at your home working on repairs, don’t forget to ask us about booking your maintenance appointment for next year.

Furnace Making Clicking Noise

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

At Tri City Fuel & Heating, our experts are here to help you unwind in peaceful, energy-efficient comfort. If your furnace is louder than it typically is or producing weird sounds, contact us at 803-265-4208 to book an appointment now.