As your furnace starts up and begins to warm up your residence, it’s common for it to make some noise. These sounds, including the burners igniting and the blower whirring, are all part of the normal start-up procedures.

But there are a few steps you can do to make your furnace run more quietly this winter.

1. Request Annual Furnace Maintenance

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

It can also help our pros uncover little issues that can make your furnace noisy. And possibly help you avoid a meltdown on the coldest day of the year. The Indoor Air Quality Association reports that routine maintenance can decrease your chance of furnace breakdowns by up to 95%.

If small furnace issues go unnoticed, they may cause trouble down the road. By unearthing these troubles sooner, our professionals can get your furnace fixed before heating season is underway.

And most important, pro 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 gas costs, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

2. Regularly Change Your Furnace’s Air Filter

Your air filter helps keep your residence’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 eat up additional gas and make it stop working faster.

Our advice for installing a new furnace filter:

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

You may have to change your filter more often if you have allergies or pets.

3. Call Polar Air & Mechanical When Your Furnace Is Making Odd Noises

Some furnaces, often older ones, could be noisier than others. But if you’re hearing very loud or strange noises, you might need to get in touch with a heating and cooling company like Polar Air & Mechanical for furnace repair in Myrtle Beach.

Here are a couple of noises to be on the lookout for, how to fix them and when to get in touch with a specialist.

Furnace Making Gurgling or Bubbling Noise

This noise is more common with high-efficiency furnaces. That’s since they exhaust fumes differently than older furnaces, and the process can make some moisture. If your furnace is running into difficulties discharging this water, it might make gurgling or bubbling sounds. You’ll require experienced support for this issue, since it may 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 scheduled maintenance recently and your furnace is making a banging sound when beginning? Its burners might be dirty. Dirty burners can delay ignition, which causes gas to accumulate within your furnace.

All that built-up gas can make a banging or booming racket when your furnace eventually does ignite. But this is more than merely an irritating noise, because the increased gas is igniting within your furnace. This can damage 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 detecting this noise, give Polar Air & Mechanical a shout at 843-253-4874. Our heating pros 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, as the metal is expanding and contracting.

We advise first looking at your furnace’s air filter and installing a new one if it’s clogged. Next, make sure you don’t have too many vents sealed in your house, as it can make air pressure uneven.

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

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 usually seen with a faltering blower fan motor, which will produce an irritating buzzing noise when your furnace starts. It may also mean there’s an issue with the capacitor or transformer. All three of these troubles need assistance from a professional heating and cooling company like Polar Air & Mechanical.

Furnace Making Knocking Noise

If your furnace is making knocking sounds, it’s often a symptom that an internal component is breaking down. This could be anything from a bearing to a belt or the gas valve. It may also be a sign that your burners are dirty.

These problems are frequently uncovered during regular maintenance performed by a certified HVAC pro. So, while we’re at your home performing repairs, don’t forget to ask us about requesting your maintenance appointment for next year.

Furnace Making Clicking Noise

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

At Polar Air & Mechanical, our pros are here to help you relax in peaceful, energy-efficient comfort. If your furnace is louder than normal or producing strange sounds, contact us at 843-253-4874 to book an appointment today.