5 Causes of Common Household Sounds

If you are a homeowner or have ever lived in a house, you know there are always sounds either coming from the structure itself or the appliances and systems working within the home. Some of them might be scary in the middle of the night and make you wonder if there is a stranger in your home or someone trying to break in. Other household sounds might simply be worrisome because you suspect something is wrong with your furnace, dishwasher or water heater.

We are going to go over some of the most common household sounds so you can get a better idea of what’s going on within your home, as well as give you some peace of mind when you hear these knocking or banging noises.

1. Your furnace needs repairs or maintenance.

One of the most common reasons for unknown household sounds lies within your furnace. Whether it’s issued with the pilot light, knock sensor, burner or crankshaft, among many other parts, it’s vital to have your furnace inspected at the first inkling that something might be wrong, which is often a banging, hissing, or knocking from within the furnace. Serious and fatal situations can arise from not addressing much-needed furnace repairs.

Most homeowners find that a banging sound is most commonly an issue with the ignition in your furnace. When the ignition system begins to malfunction, gas builds up in the combustion chamber and causes a banging sound. If you hear a rumbling sound when the furnace shuts off, this can be as equally alarming. Both sounds from within the furnace should be addressed immediately, as they can lead to toxic carbon monoxide leaks.

If you hear a whistling sound coming from the furnace, this could be an easy fix, such as switching out your furnace’s air filter, which should be done at least twice per year depending on the level of allergens in your home, number of pets and the quality of the filters you are using. If seasonal allergies are an issue for you or your family members, you might want to consider purchasing an air filter that is designed for catching allergens, mold particles and dust mites. If you have never considered using CBD for treating allergies, you might want to consider this natural way to combat allergy season as well.

2. There is something living in your walls.

If you have ever heard a strange noise such as scratching or a clicking noise behind your walls, it’s likely there is some type of animal or group of animals living within the walls. This is more common in older households, but can still be alarming. A simple call to a pest control company will help you figure out what the next steps should be to remove your new furry friend from inside of the walls.

3. Your water heater needs repaired.

Your water heater, much like your furnace, will make different strange noises when something within the system needs to be repaired. Whether it’s a hissing sound, rattling sound, buzzing or squeak, you should call someone to come look at the system to make sure it’s working efficiently. These loud noises could be something simple such as a water pump issue, or something more serious problem that could result in an expensive repair.

4. Your house is expanding or contracting.

The foundation and woodwork of many older homes are known to expand and condense as the weather changes throughout the year. Because the earth isn’t stationary, your home will try to adapt and move with the foundation. This usually isn’t something that needs to be addressed unless it seems drastic.

5. You could have a gas leak.

Something that can be very serious in your home is a gas leak. A gas leak will often sound like something is hissing and should be addressed immediately because a hissing noise means a very serious problem is afoot. You should be able to smell a gas leak, but that isn’t always the case. If you suspect a gas leak in your home, call a professional immediately.