6 Noises You Never Want To Hear In Your Home

Most of the time, our homes are silent bystanders, dutifully providing us with shelter. Sometimes, though, they can start to rustle, creak, and groan.

In some cases, this is normal. But in most cases, it’s a problem. Houses that make noises they shouldn’t could potentially be a liability. 

So, with that said, which noises do you never want to hear in your home? Let’s take a look. 

A Clunking Heating System

With winter approaching and the colder weather on its way, many of us are thinking about turning on the heating. But what if your system suddenly starts making unwanted noises? Well, you could be in trouble. Clunking could indicate a problem with the pump that moves water around the system. Broken pumps tend to sound awkward because they are receiving the normal amount of energy, but they have some sort of mechanical defect that prevents them from working properly. 

If you notice a clunking sound, get someone out to take a look as early as possible. Leaving it until later could put your boiler at risk, which is a much more expensive repair. 

A Paper-Like Rustling Noise Under The Floorboards

Generally speaking, if you put your ear to your floorboards, it should be completely silent (unless you have pipes or something like that running underneath them). If you can hear a paper-like rustling sound, it could indicate the presence of termites. 

Termites are a problem because they chew through the supportive wooden structures in your home over time. Eventually, the damage they cause can be so severe that it causes your roof or cellar to collapse. 

If you hear this sound or see any evidence of termites, call pest control. Eliminate the infestation and then survey for damage. You may need to replace various rafters and weakened boards. 

Dripping Or Running Water

You should also take action if you notice dripping or running water when all the faucets in your home are off. Usually, this indicates a leak in a pipe, often behind the walls. 

Leaking pipes are problematic for many reasons. The main issue is that water spewing out saturates the surrounding material, causing it to weaken. This can be especially serious when drywall or plasterboard is involved. 

It can also lead to flooding, damaging your interiors. Water can eventually leak through your walls into your home, destroying fittings, like your carpet and furniture. 

Mold is an additional problem. Houses with constant moisture exposure are more likely to develop patches of black mold, which can lead to respiratory issues and other problems. 

Finally, leaking pipes can invalidate your insurance, so hire a plumber as rapidly as possible to sort them out. 

Whistling

Hearing whistling in your home is another sign of trouble. A high pitch noise from your furnace extractor suggests a serious maintenance issue. 

In many cases, the problem is a blocked filter. One of these causes the furnace to overcompensate and suck gases into the home, which causes the whistling sound. 

And, as you might guess, this is a serious problem. Exhaust gases can contain many dangerous compounds, including the deadly carbon monoxide. 

If you notice this issue, switch off your furnace immediately, and don’t turn it back on until you resolve the problem. If it needs any work done, hire a professional. 

Skittering On The Walls Or Floor

If you can hear a skittering noise along the walls or floor, it could indicate the presence of rodents. Rats and mice tend to come out at night, and their claws make a scratching sound as they run over hard surfaces, like wood. 

Many rodents will stay inside the walls or under the floorboards, making it more challenging to confirm whether you have an infestation. However, some are brave enough to move around in the open, even with you in the room. 

If you haven’t seen a mouse or a rat but find pellet-shaped droppings on the floor, that’s a sure sign you have a problem. Again, you’ll want to call out the local pest control and get them to help you. 

Window Hissing

Finally, it could be a matter of concern if you can hear your windows hissing. Usually, it is a sign that they are getting old or becoming worn down due to weathering. 
Whistling from your windows is a problem because it allows heat to escape your home and cold air to enter. Over time, you’ll notice your bills are substantially higher than you would like. 

In some rare cases, it could also mean your windows are improperly installed. You’ll need to hire someone to identify the problem and fix it.

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