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Strange Noise in Home. Any Ideas?

18 years ago

A few days ago our two story house started making a strange loud noise. About every hour it lasts for 5-15 seconds and sounds like pipes making noise or something groaning. We thought it was from the AC/heating unit or attic fan. DH thought the unit was trying to kick on or something. We had it checked out by an air conditioning repairman and that wasn't the cause of the problem.

We have no idea what is causing the sound or how it can be diagnosed without someone staying here until they hear the noise. Of course we just put our house up for sale, so this is the pits. Any ideas, suggestions? Thanks.

Comments (9)

akastj_northern_ca
18 years ago
Do you have a whole-house humidifier attached to your furnace? How about a leaking toilet flapper? Both would cause water flow...

TJ
ericwi
18 years ago
If you live in a city, and your sewer mains are in a low-lying area, there will be a lift-station located nearby. We can hear our local lift pump cycle, but the noise is barely noticeable.
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scryn
18 years ago
Do you have a sump pump? That could make a noise.
bydesignprez
18 years ago
We have no hope of identifying the noise on the forum. What you need to do is trouble shoot. Turn off the electricity. Does the noise stop? If not, turn off the water and listen again. If the noise continues even when water and power are off put your ear to the wall (or use a glass) and try and narrow down the origin. Did you leave the dog locked in a room? Seriously, the idea is to turn off reasons for the noise so you trouble shoot logically.

Good luck.
over_n_under
18 years ago
scryn has the best probable guess. If it is as consistent as you say it is, the sump pump is the most likely culprit.
BreakerOff
18 years ago
Or, record the noise and post it online so we can hear it.
mike_in_kc
18 years ago
You really haven't done a good job of describing the sound. Is it a banging noise ... growling noise ... hissing noise, grinding noise, etc.? It could be critters in the attic or some other area of the house where they have gotten in-- squirrels, mice, even a raccoon!
JRRR
18 years ago
Is the house built on an old Indian graveyard?
blanche1951
18 years ago
oh, let me tell you about the groaning noise in our house. It took awhile to find out what it was but we soon found out it was the plumbing. Whenever someone flushed a toilet or opened a faucet, the groaning would start. It turned out to be the toilet in the basement and was easily fixed by replacing the little rubber flap inside the tank. Can't quite remember what that is called but it affected the whole house. Good luck

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