Have you ever heard a weird noise in the middle of the night when you are trying to sleep? A persistent tapping, a whistle, or even a loud pop could be the source of the noise. Before you get too worked up, consider the following explanations for strange house noises.
Tapping
The sound of a constant tapping is perhaps the most typical sound in a home. The expansion and contraction of building materials are the most common causes of this sound.Wood or wood-based products are used to construct the majority of houses in North America. Plumbing piping and heating and cooling ductwork are also made of metal and plastic.Changes in temperature and humidity cause all of these materials to expand and contract. You probably hear the constant tapping sounds when someone in the house uses the hot water. It can also happen when using the bathroom, the dishwasher, or the clothes dryer.When wood, metal, or plastic hot water pipes expand or contract and rub against wood framing members, a constant tapping sound is produced. If you hear this sound, attempt to figure out if it’s related to the usage of hot water, but keep in mind that it could also happen as the pipes cool down.
Popping
This is mainly caused by the expansion and contraction of building materials. It frequently occurs on extremely cold or extremely hot days. The wood framing expands and contracts, which causes the popping sound.Nails are sometimes used to hold the expansion or contraction in place until it becomes intense enough to move. A popping or perhaps a banging sound can occur from the quick release of pressure. This sound can be fairly loud, and it may even cause a little shaking.Despite the fact that it can be unsettling, this type of movement normally poses no threat to the house’s structure.The expansion and contraction of the heating and cooling ductwork can also generate popping sounds. When your furnace’s blower fan turns on, the pressure exerted can push the metal ductwork out. The ductwork will contract back into place when the fan is turned off, generating a pop or bang.
Banging or Rattling
You hear these noises when plumbing fixtures are turned on or off. It usually happens when the fixtures are turned off. This phenomenon that produces such sounds is known as “water hammer”.When water flow is interrupted by turning off a fixture, vibrations are transmitted through the pipework, which can cause the pipes to rattle. You can install a water hammer arrestor to solve this problem.I would recommend having a certified plumber install a water hammer arrestor unless you are incredibly adept. While you’re trying to figure out what’s making the noise, remember that your dishwasher and clothes washer are both plumbing fixtures. Don’t cause any problem you normally wouldn’t want.
Humming & Singing
These noises are frequently associated with plumbing. Even a small amount of water passing through a valve might cause them.Replacement of the valve or the valve’s washer is sometimes the only option. Check the water pressure in your home with a gauge before trying anything else. You can get it at a hardware shop.Place the gauge on your water heater’s drain valve and turn it on. Your house pressure will be displayed on the gauge.One word of caution: if your water heater is in a place where leaking would cause damage, I propose installing the gauge on the cold water supply for the washing machine instead.If this site is unavailable, the gauge can be mounted on a hose bib. Because the hose bibs in the front of the home are frequently left at street pressure, it is advisable to utilize the rear hose bib. The humming sound can be caused by high water pressure in your home if it is greater than 80 pounds per square inch (psi).Installing or replacing your pressure-lowering valve should always be done by licensed plumbing. Do not try to do it yourself as you may end up with a few serious damages instead. If you still hear some weird noise at night and do not know what it is, order home inspection services by Edifice Inspections. Our trained and experienced home inspectors will inspect your house thoroughly and inform you about any hidden defects and damages so that you can deal with them before it is too long. Follow this link if you want to schedule a home inspection online.
