As your furnace turns on and gets ready to warm up your home, it’s expected for it to produce some noise. These sounds, including the burners lighting and the blower whirring, are all part of the normal start-up process.

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

1. Schedule Regular Furnace Maintenance

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

It can also help our pros find small issues that could make your furnace annoying. And maybe help you sidestep a malfunction on the coldest day of the year. The Indoor Air Quality Association reports that regular maintenance can lower your chance of furnace malfunctions by up to 95%.

If small furnace troubles go ignored, they may cause trouble in the future. By unearthing these issues sooner, our techs can get your furnace taken care of before heating season is underway.

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

2. Frequently 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 frequently. Called short cycling, this can cause your furnace to consume additional gas and make it wear out faster.

Our advice for changing your furnace filter:

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

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

3. Call Ilten's When Your Furnace Is Making Weird Noises

Some furnaces, particularly older ones, can make more noise than others. But if you’re hearing very loud or weird noises, you might need to get in touch with a heating and cooling company like Ilten's for furnace repair in Cedar Rapids.

Here are a couple of noises to be looking for, how to repair them and when to get in touch with a specialist.

Furnace Making Gurgling or Bubbling Noise

This noise occurs more commonly with high-efficiency furnaces. That’s because they exhaust fumes dissimilarly than older furnaces, and the process can produce some moisture. If your furnace is having difficulties draining this water, it could make gurgling or bubbling sounds. You’ll need professional 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 several things.

Haven’t requested maintenance recently and your furnace is producing a banging sound when starting? Its burners might be dirty. Dirty burners can delay ignition, which results in gas accumulating in your furnace.

All that built-up gas can cause a banging or booming noise when your furnace finally does ignite. But this is more than only an irritating noise, since the accumulated gas is erupting within your furnace. This can crack your furnace’s heat exchanger and make a dangerous carbon monoxide leak.

If you’ve forgotten regular service for your furnace and you’re noticing this noise, give Ilten's a call at 319-208-2351. Our heating professionals will get your furnace tuned up and make sure it’s operating correctly.

Your ductwork can also make banging sounds when your furnace starts, because the metal is expanding and contracting.

We suggest first checking your furnace’s air filter and replacing it if it’s filthy. Next, ensure you don’t have too many vents closed in your residence, as it can throw off air pressure.

If neither of these methods repair the sound, your ductwork might be dirty or undersized, which will require assistance from a professional 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 an annoying buzzing noise when your furnace switches on. It can also mean there’s an issue with the capacitor or transformer. All three of these problems need help from a professional heating and cooling company like Ilten's.

Furnace Making Knocking Noise

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

These problems are usually uncovered during regular maintenance done by a certified HVAC pro. So, while we’re at your residence doing repairs, don’t forget to ask us about scheduling your maintenance appointment for the future.

Furnace Making Clicking Noise

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

At Ilten's, our specialists are here to help you unwind in peaceful, energy-efficient comfort. If your furnace is louder than it typically is or producing strange sounds, contact us at 319-208-2351 to book an appointment right away.