As your furnace turns on and prepares to heat your home, it’s common for it to create 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 couple of steps you can do to make your furnace quieter this winter.

1. Schedule Regular Furnace Maintenance

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

It can also help us discover small issues that could make your furnace loud. And maybe help you avoid a meltdown on the most frigid day of the year. The Indoor Air Quality Association reports that annual maintenance can decrease your likelihood of furnace meltdowns by up to 95%.

If minor furnace issues go undetected, they may cause trouble in the future. By uncovering these problems sooner, our techs can get your furnace taken care of before heating season begins.

And most essential, 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 energy bills, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

2. Routinely Change Your Furnace’s Air Filter

Your air filter helps keep your residence’s air fresh and clean. When it gets too filthy, it can make your furnace turn on and off more than it should. Called short cycling, this can cause your furnace to consume additional fuel and make it break down faster.

Our suggestions for replacing your furnace filter:

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

You may have to get a new filter more often if you have allergies or pets.

3. Contact Contra Costa Heating & AC When Your Furnace Is Creating Strange Noises

Some furnaces, often older ones, can make more noise than others. But if you’re noticing extremely loud or odd noises, it may be time to contact a heating and cooling company like Contra Costa Heating & AC for furnace repair in The Bay Area.

Here are a couple of noises to be on the lookout for, how to solve them and when to call a professional.

Furnace Making Gurgling or Bubbling Noise

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

Haven’t scheduled maintenance recently and your furnace is producing a banging sound when turning on? Its burners might be dirty. Dirty burners can hold up ignition, which results in gas accumulating 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, as the built-up gas is erupting within your furnace. This can crack your furnace’s heat exchanger and create a life-threatening carbon monoxide leak.

If you’ve neglected regular tune-ups for your furnace and you’re detecting this noise, give Contra Costa Heating & AC a ring at 510-343-9841. Our heating professionals will get your furnace tuned up and double-check it’s operating correctly.

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

We advise 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 house, as it can force air pressure out of balance.

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

Furnace Making Humming or Buzzing Noise

If your furnace is buzzing or humming, it’s a flag there’s electrical troubles. This is most usually seen with a dying blower fan motor, which will produce an irritating buzzing noise when your furnace starts. It could also mean there’s a problem with the capacitor or transformer. All three of these troubles need help from a skilled heating and cooling company like Contra Costa Heating & AC.

Furnace Making Knocking Noise

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

These troubles are typically uncovered during yearly maintenance done by a certified HVAC technician. So, while we’re at your residence doing repairs, don’t forget to ask us about booking your maintenance appointment for next year.

Furnace Making Clicking Noise

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

At Contra Costa Heating & AC, our specialists are here to help you enjoy peaceful, energy-efficient comfort. If your furnace is louder than it usually is or producing strange sounds, contact us at 510-343-9841 to book an appointment today.