As your furnace turns on and begins to add warmth to your house, it’s common for it to make some noise. These sounds, such as the burners igniting and the blower running, are all part of the usual start-up procedures.

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

1. Book Annual Furnace Maintenance

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

It can also help our pros find minor issues that could make your furnace noisy. And potentially help you avoid a breakdown on the coldest day of the year. The Indoor Air Quality Association reports that routine maintenance can decrease your likelihood of furnace malfunctions by up to 95%.

If minor furnace issues 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 in full swing.

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

2. Routinely Change Your Furnace’s Air Filter

Your air filter helps keep your home’s air fresh and clean. When it becomes too filthy, it can make your furnace turn on and off too often. Called short cycling, this can cause your furnace to consume additional energy 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 may have to get a new filter more frequently if you have allergies or pets.

3. Call West Michigan Heating & Air Conditioning Services When Your Furnace Is Making Odd Noises

Some furnaces, often older ones, could be louder than others. But if you’re detecting extremely loud or odd noises, you might need to call a heating and cooling company like West Michigan Heating & Air Conditioning Services for furnace repair in Hudsonville.

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

Furnace Making Gurgling or Bubbling Noise

This noise happens more frequently with high-efficiency furnaces. That’s due to the fact they exhaust fumes in another way than older furnaces, and the process can produce some moisture. If your furnace is running into difficulties removing this water, it may make gurgling or bubbling sounds. You’ll need experienced support for this problem, since it could 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 may mean a couple of things.

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

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

If you’ve overlooked regular service for your furnace and you’re hearing this noise, give West Michigan Heating & Air Conditioning Services a ring at (616) 319-1436. 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 switches on, because the metal is expanding and contracting.

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

If neither of these steps repair the issue, your ductwork might be dirty or undersized, which will require assistance from a skilled HVAC specialist.

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 faltering blower fan motor, which will make an annoying buzzing noise when your furnace switches on. It could also mean there’s a problem with the capacitor or transformer. All three of these problems need support from an experienced heating and cooling company like West Michigan Heating & Air Conditioning Services.

Furnace Making Knocking Noise

If your furnace is making knocking sounds, it’s often a symptom that an internal part is breaking down. This might be anything from a bearing to a belt or the gas valve. It might also be an indication that your burners need to be cleaned.

These issues are typically uncovered during annual maintenance done by a certified HVAC professional. So, while we’re at your house working on repairs, don’t forget to inquire about booking your maintenance appointment for the upcoming year.

Furnace Making Clicking Noise

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

At West Michigan Heating & Air Conditioning Services, our specialists are here to help you relax in peaceful, energy-efficient comfort. If your furnace is louder than normal or producing weird sounds, contact us at (616) 319-1436 to request an appointment now.