Modern homes make all kinds of strange noises. Many of these are nothing to worry about, but others could be cause for concern. Just what are the types of sounds you shouldn’t be ignoring? This post lists a few noises that you ought to be treating as alarm bells.
Dripping water
The sound of dripping water in your home typically means that there’s a leak somewhere. This could be a plumbing leak or a rainwater leak. Either way – it’s not good. Leaking water could cause damage to your home and encourage mold growth and pests in your home. This is why it’s important to find the source of the leak as soon as you can and fix it. Check your attic to make sure it’s not coming from the roof and look out for damp patches on walls that could indicate a leak coming from a pipe in a wall.
Whistling wind
If you hear or feel wind inside your home, it means that you’ve got a draft. There could be an obvious source such as an open window or open door. However, if windows and doors are all shut, it could mean that cold air is getting in through other places it shouldn’t. Cracks in walls or gaps around window frames could be counteracting any insulation you have in place and causing high energy bills in winter by forcing you to use more heat to keep your home warm. Worse, they could be a sign of a structural issue like subsidence. This is why you shouldn’t ignore drafts.
Scratches in the walls
Heard a scratching sound coming from your walls? It’s likely you have a pest problem. Mice and rats are the most likely culprits. That scratching sound you’re hearing is them gnawing through materials in your walls – which could include insulation, drywall, wires or even pipes. Such pests can also contaminate food and spread disease as well as causing damage, so you need to remove them from your home. A pest control service can help with this. This guide offers more tips for getting rid of mice.
Squealing furnace
Furnaces are naturally quite noisy, but there are some noises that aren’t normal. A squealing sound is a sure sign of a problem – usually a problem with the blower motor such as a worn belt or worn bearings. A blower motor issue can cause poor airflow, high energy bills and further furnace damage. As a result you should hire a professional to inspect your finance the moment you notice this noise.
Grinding garage door
Garage doors shouldn’t make too much noise when opening and closing them. A grinding or scraping sound is likely to be caused by some kind of wear and tear. The noise could be due to worn rollers or misalignment. This grinding can cause further damage to your garage door and may even become a danger if a garage door becomes unbalanced or a worn cable snaps. It’s worth hiring someone who specializes in home garage door repair to take a look and assess what is wrong – don’t continue to use your garage door if it’s making unusual noises.
Humming outlets
A humming sound coming from electric wall outlets or light sockets could be a sign of an electrical problem. Wires can vibrate and hum if they are damaged or overloaded. This can cause excess heating, which may lead to an electrical fire. Check that there are no burning smells and make sure you haven’t got too many devices plugged into one socket. To be certain that there is nothing wrong, call out an electrician to take a look.
Buzzing refrigerator
Most refrigerators will produce a slight hum and may produce other strange sounds like groaning if there is ice build-up in the freezer. A louder buzzing sound is usually a more serious problem such as a faulty fan motor or compressor. This could lead to the fridge to break down and food to spoil. Call out an appliance technician to take a look before your fridge fails completely.
Rattling washing machine
It’s also important to listen to your washing machine. Some washing machines can rumble and vibrate a lot, but a violent rattling sound is usually unhealthy. It’s worth stopping the cycle, draining the drum and checking that there’s nothing inside that has come loose/any unwanted objects mixed in with your laundry. Failing to fix this problem could lead to your washing machine experiencing major damage and you may have to buy a new one.
Bubbling pipes
If pipes are creating bubbling sounds, it’s usually the result of a blockage in a pipe. This can disrupt flow of water/gas, and could lead to disastrous pressure problems that could end with a pipe bursting. Call out a plumber to take a look if you hear bubbling sounds. Avoid trying to fix this issue, as you might end up making matters worse and more costly for you. If it’s more than a blocked sinkhole or a toilet that needs plunging, call in expert plumbing and heating services who can identify and rectify the issue for you.
