Help us identify this annoying popping/creaking noise in our house!

The Something Awful Forums > The Finer Arts > Creative Convention > DIY & Hobbies > Help us identify this annoying popping/creaking noise in our house!

melon cat: Jan 21, 2010

We bought our townhouse 3 years ago (it was built in 2007, so it's fairly new). Everything has been going fine except for one thing- this really irritating popping noise in the walls and ceiling that occurs during late hours. The video shown below documents the issue.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9bSXzGkLvg

A few things we've noticed about the noise:

The noise seems to occur during the colder parts of the year, particularly late Fall and Winter.
It occurs in one particular area- the ceiling above the laundry and furnace room.
It seems to happen in the early morning and late night hours.
It's definitely not our neighbours. They're not loud people, and the noises have occurred when they're not home, or on vacation. We've asked them about the noise, and they said that they noticed it too. But for them it isn't too loud because the noise is beneath the floor.
It hasn't gotten better with time.

The video doesn't really do the noise justice. It's really loud. We had some house guests not long ago who couldn't get any sleep because the noise wouldn't stop. Any thoughts about what this noise might be? What can we do bring an end to it? We live in Ontario, Canada if it's at all helpful. This noise wasn't disclose to us during the home buying process and we did have an inspection performed prior to buying the home- do we have any recourse in this regard?

melon cat fucked around with this message at Jan 28, 2013 around 16:47

# ? Jan 28, 2013 16:26

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# ? May 18, 2013 11:12

apatite: Dec 2, 2006

I'd probably start with whatever is making the loud humming noise...

# ? Jan 28, 2013 16:58

melon cat: Jan 21, 2010

apatite posted:

I'd probably start with whatever is making the loud humming noise...

Heh, that's our furnace. We just had our HVAC guy come in for its annual inspection. The humming is part of its normal operation.

# ? Jan 28, 2013 17:03

apatite: Dec 2, 2006

Is there possibly a loose damper flapping around in a duct somewhere? Flexible ducting disconnected and flopping about? Not sure really, that's a weird rear end noise.

# ? Jan 28, 2013 17:13

Neutrino: Mar 8, 2006

Is it a faulty ignition on your gas furnace? Does the sound only happen when the furnace is on? Turn off the furnace breaker next time it happens to see if that narrows it down. If that doesn't kill the sound turn off your main breaker to see if that affects it. If that doesn't work then have your neighbor turn off their main breaker. Turn off various breakers to try and narrow it down. If that is a smoke alarm on the ceiling check to see if it causes the noise and needs replacing.

# ? Jan 28, 2013 17:47

Gorillian Dollars: Jan 22, 2012; We are selling to willing buyers at the current fair market price, even if we know it has no value.

melon cat posted:

The noise seems to occur during the colder parts of the year, particularly late Fall and Winter.

It occurs in one particular area- the ceiling above the laundry and furnace room.

It seems to happen in the early morning and late night hours.

Sounds like something is expanding and contracting, especially the temperature differences occuring at dusk/dawn and that it occurs more often during the colder seasons seems to point towards that.
My own house has pipes for hot-water running through the walls at certain points, when the floor heating turns on creaking noises appear aswel, though at a faster tempo.
Same goes for the actual tile floor, near the doors infrequent cracking noises appear where it hits the wooden floorboards.

Are there any ventilation ducts near that room? Metal/aluminum in particular can be very flexible in regards to heat/cold cycles.

# ? Jan 28, 2013 20:26

mdf: Aug 1, 2006

How long does the noise last for? It sounds like central heating pipes to me (mine do it for a few minutes when the heating goes on or off)

If the pipes are fixed too tightly to joists or rub on floorboards they creak and pop when they expand and contract, apparently the thing to do is put some cloth or something soft between the pipes where they cross joists. You'd need to get into the ceiling to see exactly what's in there though.

# ? Jan 28, 2013 22:06

walumachoncha: Jul 22, 2004; fraeulin doesn't like linux/GNOME :(

just throwing a far off guess, but are the studs wood or metal? that sounds just like structural or sheet metal contracting due to heating/ cooling.

# ? Jan 29, 2013 02:08

melon cat: Jan 21, 2010

apatite posted:

Is there possibly a loose damper flapping around in a duct somewhere? Flexible ducting disconnected and flopping about? Not sure really, that's a weird rear end noise.

I thought the same thing, but it only occurs during select parts of the day (early morning, late night).

Neutrino posted:

Is it a faulty ignition on your gas furnace? Does the sound only happen when the furnace is on? Turn off the furnace breaker next time it happens to see if that narrows it down. If that doesn't kill the sound turn off your main breaker to see if that affects it. If that doesn't work then have your neighbor turn off their main breaker. Turn off various breakers to try and narrow it down. If that is a smoke alarm on the ceiling check to see if it causes the noise and needs replacing.

I don't think it's originating from the furnace, but it wouldn't hurt to try turning off the ignition. I'll give that a try. I thought it might've been the fire alarm, too- but upon closer inspection the noise is coming from "behind" it (ie. through the walls and ceiling).

Gorillian Dollars posted:

My own house has pipes for hot-water running through the walls at certain points, when the floor heating turns on creaking noises appear aswel, though at a faster tempo.

Are there any ventilation ducts near that room? Metal/aluminum in particular can be very flexible in regards to heat/cold cycles.

I know what noise you're referring to (that one that goes at a faster tempo), but this doesn't sound like it's the same thing. The noise persists whether or not we, or the neighbours, are using water.

And yes, there are some ventilation ducts. Lots.

mdf posted:

How long does the noise last for? It sounds like central heating pipes to me (mine do it for a few minutes when the heating goes on or off)

If the pipes are fixed too tightly to joists or rub on floorboards they creak and pop when they expand and contract, apparently the thing to do is put some cloth or something soft between the pipes where they cross joists. You'd need to get into the ceiling to see exactly what's in there though.

The noise can last anywhere between an hour to several hours. If all else fails and I'm still looking for a solution should I consult with an HVAC Technician first? A Structural Engineer?

walumachoncha posted:

just throwing a far off guess, but are the studs wood or metal? that sounds just like structural or sheet metal contracting due to heating/ cooling.

I believe they're wooden.

Forgot to mention one thing- I just gave the ceiling a firm thump with my hand (partly out of frustration, and partly out of "percussive maintenance") and the popping noise stopped for about half a minute... then started up again.

melon cat fucked around with this message at Jan 29, 2013 around 04:59

# ? Jan 29, 2013 04:48

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# ? May 18, 2013 11:12

Shark Attack!: Nov 2, 2006; __/\_____\o/___

Patching drywall is fairly simple .. have you considered cutting a portion of the ceiling away so you can poke your head inside?

Those water marks on the duct work might be cause for concern too, by the way, especially if there is moisture behind the drywall.

# ? Jan 29, 2013 18:08

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