Have you ever been startled by a strange noise in your house? Perhaps you reassure yourself that the house is just “settling,” or you give into your superstitions and chalk it up to ghostly activity. No matter how you do it, shrugging off the noise may not be the best idea. Let’s take a look at some of the most common reasons you’ll hear unusual noises in your home.
Banging Noises in the Walls
The knocking or banging noise you hear coming from your walls usually occurs when air pressure builds in your water pipes. This pressure builds up and causes your pipes to vibrate once the pressure is released (when your faucets are turned on or your toilet is flushed). The pipes could be loose, in which case they’ll need to be tightened or fit with a sleeve that keeps them from banging against your walls.
Clanking Sounds
If you hear clanking noises in your walls or ceilings, it might be coming from your HVAC system. More specifically, your aluminum ductwork. During the winter when you turn your heat on for the first time, your ductwork may expand and contract with the change in temperature. This type of issue may be unavoidable, but having an HVAC technician check your system and ductwork to make sure it’s working as it should is always a good idea.
Bubbling and Popping Sounds
The first appliance you should check when you hear popping noises is your water heater. With prolonged use, sediment builds up at the bottom of the tank, causing it to bubble and pop as it heats the water. Gas and propane-heated tanks are also known to make popping sounds when they light up. Having your water heater cleaned regularly is a great way to avoid sediment build-up.
Loud Banging Noises
Are you hearing a loud bang in your home? First, narrow down some of the obvious being something has fallen over or there’s a malfunctioning appliance. Once you’ve checked those off the list, check to see if any of your trees are banging up beside your house. Still hearing the banging noise? Do you have a deck? Your deck could have been improperly installed leading to shifting as the ground freezes and thaws.
Whistling Noises
If you hear a low whistle in your home, the problem is likely with the venting and airflow. A dirty air filter in your HVAC system restricts the airflow in and out of your ducts. Since the system is having a difficult time getting air through the system, it pulls it from the outer edges of your filter, creating a whistling sound. Changing the filter is a cheap and quick fix for this kind of noise.
Still not sure what that strange noise is? The top trusted Sykesville, md plumbing company, Michael Runk Plumbing and Heating is here to help. Contact us today to set up a diagnostics appointment, or to learn about the services we offer.