Hello. For the last several months my wife and I noticed a low frequency humming sound in our home. At first this sound was simply "white noise" and not very noticeable unless you really tried to focus on it. However in the last couple of months the sound has been much more noticeable, particularly when all the TV's in the house are turned off. It's gotten to the point where many nights I have to go sleep on the couch with a fan turned on full blast. It's the only thing that masks the sound enough for me to sleep. Ear plugs are of no help. They seem to drown out every other noise except for the hum. Following are more details:

1) Can be heard in every room of the house.
2) The noise is pretty much constant but seems to pulsate/vary in intensity.
3) I've shut off the power and the sound is still there.
4) I've looked throughout the home including the attic and can't seem to locate the source.

Any ideas or feedback would be VERY MUCH appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Chuck

Try turning off the Water.

Let's reverse the washer first. Shut the water off under the tank and take the lid off. Remove the three screws on top of the ballcock,(sae image) and pull the stem,washer and float assembly up. Pry the washer out and turn it over. Seat it back firmly and see if that doesn't help.
Sometimes the problem is caused by the ballcock trying to fill while water is seeping out of the tank. The sound you hear is the washer vibrating against the seat of the ballcock. First check there linkage between the flapper and the flush lever. It should have 1/4" of play when your tank is filled. The water level should be 1/2" below the white overflow tube after the tank's filled. Next feel the flat side of your flapper. Does it have wavey edges? Do your hands come away black? Replace it if it does. And last check the seat itself. Any nicks or rough spots? If so click on back. There are replacement seats that glue right over the old one and are easy to replace. One of the above should take care of your howling.

This happened in a new house some years ago. Only at night and in the early morning. They thought the house was haunted and were about to move out. I caught it in the powder room toilet. It would vibrate and the pipes in the wall would pick it up and carry it all over the house.
One more thing. This could also happen if the ballcock kicking on every time you shut off a faucet. To check this out remove the lid and open and shut the shower valve real fast while watching the float ball. If it bobs up and down you have located the source of the problem. It is a sort of water hammer and you don't recharge your air chambers by simply draining the system. It's more complicated then that.
Let me explain. Back in the 60's we were required to to put air chambers on all bath lavatories and kitchen sinks. Over time water and condensate built up in them and they must be recharged. First turn off the house at the main house shut off valve. Then open hot and cold faucets at the farthest bathroom to prevent air lock.(This is important.) You will find under each fixture little brass or chrome valves. These are called angle stops. With a small pail held under the angle stop to catch the run off look under the handle of the stop and you will see a nut with the stem running through it. This is called the bonnet packing nut. Put your wrench on it and back it off counterclockwise. Now open the stop and remove the stem and washer assembly, The stop will began to drain. When it has quit draining reassemble the stop and move on to the next one. Do this on each one of your angle stops. There will be six of them in a two bath home. When you are done, close off the faucets you have opened, turn on the water to the house, and give yourself a pat on the back.

You have just recharged your air chambers and saved yourself a hefty service call bill. Hope this helps you out and thank you ratting my answer. TOM

Thanks Speedball. I have already followed your instructions in paragraph one. There was only one bathroom where I needed to replace the ballcock and flapper but I still have the problem. Next I will check out the float ball while turning the shower valve on and off.

Could you do me a favor? I'm a little fuzzy as to what the angle stops are. Are you referring to the hot and cold shut off valves beneath the sink? If not, would you consider posting a picture of this part? Thanks for offering to help!

Best Regards
Chuck

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Could you do me a favor? I'm a little fuzzy as to what the angle stops are. Are you referring to the hot and cold shut off valves beneath the sink? If not, would you consider posting a picture of this part?

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Angle stops, (see image) are those little shut off valves in your cabinet. Cheers, Tom

Have you found the source of the noise? I starting having the same problem on Saturday, Oct. 10. I found your question by doing a search on the noise. Your list of 1-4 matches my problem. Over the course of the week the sound changed to a lower level hum, sometimes sounding like a bass guitar. I've checked all the walls using a glass cup and couldn't hear the sound in the walls. I use a fan a night, but it does not drown out the sound. I could still hear the hum after shutting off the main electric and breakers, so I decided to call my energy company. The reapair person could kind of hear it, but not constantly like I can. She replaced the outside electric meter, but it didn't change anything. The next day I called the water company. They stopped by and checked out the water meter, radiators, and walls for sound and found nothing. The reapair person told me she has horrible hearing and could not hear it.
And my husband cannot hear it. I only hear it in the house. Fortunately it is less annoying then it was last week. Please let me know if you find the source, thanks

Sandra

You are not saying whether it is continuous hum, 24/7 or only certain hours of the day.

In addition to Tom's advice, here are some sources of humming noise:

1. Hot water circulation pump
2. R.O system
3. Ceiling fan
4. Computer turned On
5. A/C running
6. Refrigerator
7. Booster pump
8. Sewer ejector
9. Pool pump
10.Pressurized water leak
11.High voltage wires above your house
12.Street light
13.Neighbor running generator
14.Swamp cooler

I would then try Turning Off water and ALL Power(Main Breaker). If that does it. Turn breakers on One by One to determine the cause?

Speedball, Milo and others. Thanks for your responses. I have follow-up questions for Speedball and Milo:

Speedball, I just got back from vacation so I haven't gone beyond replacing the ballcock in one bathroom. But I did turn off the main water last night and the sound persists. Does this rule out plumbing as a potential culprit?

Milo, the sound is 24/7 but is most noticeable during the early morning hours when other background noise is most quiet. I have ruled out everything on your list except 1,2,7 & 8. Can you elaborate on where to find these and who may be qualified to check them?

BTW... I have turned off the main breaker too and the sound still persists. So anything related to electrical power can be ruled out.

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I did turn off the main water last night and the sound persists. Does this rule out plumbing as a potential culprit?

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When you turned the water off did you open a faucet to relieve the pressure? If not go back and do it again. Let me know, Tom

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Originally Posted by speedball1

When you turned the water off did you open a faucet to relieve the pressure? If not go back and do it again. Let me know, Tom

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Hello Tom. I have a walkout ranch. The main water shutoff is on that level. After turning off the water I went to the bathroom on the main floor (1 floor above) which is furthest away from the shutoff. I turned on the hot and cold water faucets on the sink and watched until the water stopped draining. I then walked around the house but to my dismay the dreaded pulsating, low humming/vibrating sound continues. I'm beginning to think maybe my house is haunted:(

1. Hot water circulation system is a pump circulating hot water throughout your house. Pump is know for making humming noise. It can also be uninsulated hot water return pipe , touching framing.
2. R.O system (Reverse Osmosis) is filtration system under your sink. It runs water through it most of the day. It makes humming noise
3.Booster pump is a pump that boosts pressure in your water system.
4.Sewer Ejector is another pump that may hum if it is malfunctioning. Any pump in your house may emit humming noise

Also, if you live close by busy freeway you may hear passing traffic in form of low noise. Yes, it is most audible when overall noise solution is down, like night or early morning.

I would also look at my electrical devices. Hard Drives, computer screens, routers, etc are known for making buzzing sound...

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Originally Posted by speedball1

When you turned the water off did you open a faucet to relieve the pressure? If not go back and do it again. Let me know, Tom

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Hello Tom. Yes, In fact after shutting the main water off in my basement I went to every bathroom to open up both the hot and cold water faucets. Still the problem persists. I'm beginning to think my house is haunted :(

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Originally Posted by Milo Dolezal

1. Hot water circulation system is a pump circulating hot water throughout your house. Pump is know for making humming noise. It can also be uninsulated hot water return pipe , touching framing.
2. R.O system (Reverse Osmosis) is filtration system under your sink. It runs water through it most of the day. It makes humming noise
3.Booster pump is a pump that boosts pressure in your water system.
4.Sewer Ejector is another pump that may hum if it is malfunctioning. Any pump in your house may emit humming noise

Also, if you live close by busy freeway you may hear passing traffic in form of low noise. Yes, it is most audible when overall noise solution is down, like night or early morning.

I would also look at my electrical devices. Hard Drives, computer screens, routers, etc are known for making buzzing sound ...

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Hello Milo. Thanks for offering help. Please forgive my ignorance but do all homes have a hot water circulation system, booster bump and sewer ejector? If not, how would I know whether I have them?

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Originally Posted by sandra8

Have you found the source of the noise? I starting having the exact same problem on Saturday, Oct. 10. I found your question by doing a search on the noise. Your list of 1-4 matches my problem. Over the course of the week the sound changed to a lower level hum, sometimes sounding like a bass guitar. I've checked all the walls using a glass cup and couldn't hear the sound in the walls. I use a fan a night, but it does not drown out the sound. I could still hear the hum after shutting off the main electric and breakers, so I decided to call my energy company. The reapair person could kind of hear it, but not constantly like I can. She replaced the the outside electric meter, but it didn't change anything. The next day I called the water company. They stopped by and checked out the water meter, radiators, and walls for sound and found nothing. The reapair person told me she has horrible hearing and could not hear it.
And my husband cannot hear it. I only hear it in the house. Fortunately it is less annoying then it was last week. Please let me know if you find the source, thanks

Sandra

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Hello Sandra. Unfortunately I have not found the answer yet. Since the problem persists after shutting both the water and power off I'm thinking that maybe it is something outside of my home that is causing the vibration/humming. I'm having a realtor friend who is also a builder come over later to see if he can help. If you come up with anything please post OK? I will do likewise.

Then we look in other places. Milo came up with the most likely. Since you started the "process of elimation" by shutting of the water the next logical step is shutting off the power vat the breaker box. Since you've already done that and the hum still persists you have done about all you could do. Let us know if your friend can spot anything. Good luck, Tom

I am experiencing the same thing. Although I can hear the low vibration, it is almost more like a feeling and pressure. I did several self tests to make sure that I did not have an inner ear problem or tinitus or something of that nature. However, I was certain that the vibrational, pulsating hum was from an outside source. I too checked all of the possible electrical and powered devices in my home. All of that went out the window when I realized that the pulsating vibration was equally present outside my home. I live in a very rural area. I walked out in the woods and in the fields, by the pond... the vibration persists. Sometimes it is a little louder than other times, but it is always present. I sleep with a fan on and must always listen to music or have some kind of noise, because this is unpleasant. I believe that it is a low megahertz kind of thing. I am an artist - writer, cellist, naturalist... not a scientist. But I am educated and smart enough to to comprehend that this is low frequency and it is strong and constant and I am starting to believe intentional. It is affecting my state of being... my concentration and causing some mental fatigue and distraction... is this the point of it? I know that there are many towers everywhere, even in this slice of heaven where I live in NH... literally on Golden Pond (the movie) and White Mountains. What can I do to prevent this onslaught of low frequency from causing me more discomfort?


It is probably ELF towers outside emitting low frequency vibrations. This is becoming the norm. If you live in the city, there is a lot of hub bub and racket... if you live in a rural area (like me)... it is very pronounced and probably a threat to your health. I am looking into it now.

I too experience this vibrating, pulsing noise. However, if I am very still, I can feel it. Almost like it's in my bones. And when it suddenly stops, I can't even tell you the immediate relief I feel in my body. And it gives me a terrible headache. I am starting to notice it more. At first I thought there was something from the outside influencing it. But I know my body. I am not good with low pitch's (such as deep voices) but listening to a dog whistle gives me a migraine even though I technically cannot "hear" it. This makes me think it is really a very high pitch.

Hi Cupcake,
Low frequency hums are usually caused be vibration. Check your toilets for tank levels. If a PRV (pressure reducing valve) is installed where the waster enters your home check it for vibration. Try to localize the source. Let me know what you find. M Good luck, Tom

Hello
I too have been experiencing these unexplainable frequencies/sounds for a year or more. When I first started hearing this I was certain I must be hearing the frequencies or humming noise from large electrical equipment from somewhere in town. It woke me up at night and I started asking my neighbors if they were hearing this. They weren't. I have turned off everything in my home and the noise is still there. Then I noticed that it wasn' just limited to my neighborhood but I was hearing it while staying at my boyfriends house in another town, while visiting a girlfriend 40 miles away and most disturbing, while visiting my daughter several hundred miles from me who lives in a very rural area 20 miles from town! I thought I was losing my mind or having high blood pressure symptoms but the noise doesn't seem to originate internally, it's definitely experience as a very exterior sound.
I should also add that I have been a bodyworker for many years, doing therapies that are quite subtle to the body such as craniosacral therapy which has developed in me an acute sensitivity to internal and external "hearing" The other observation I have about hearing these sounds is that the frequency tone changes. It's not always the same "note" that I'm hearing and that the "note" is very broad with multiple frequencies within it but definitely having one dominant note or tone.
All this being said I was, once again, discussing this with my boyfriend recently and he sent me a website ( http://www.planetware.de/octave/earthyear/html) that was put together by a Swiss scientist who talks about the primal tones of the universe. I looked on this site and started keeping track of which tones/frequencies I was hearing when (there are tone samples to check out on the site) and I discovered the tones which represent different planets in relationship to the earth were corresponding to what I was experiencing. For example when a particular planet was in closer proximity to the earth, from an astrological point of view, then that would be the dominant tone that I was hearing. This would seem to shift as the planets shifted.
Check this website out and see what your experience is. The tones that you will hear on your computer won't have the same thrumming/frequency of what you're actually hearing but the tones match up. This guy also says that these sounds can't be heard with the "naked" ear but obviously we've all challenged that theory! I would also point out that my daughter, also a very sensitive soul, has started hearing these noises as well recently. She is not pleased about it but it makes me feel slightly less crazy!

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Then I noticed that it wasn' just limited to my neighborhood but I was hearing it while staying at my boyfriends house in another town, while visiting a girlfriend 40 miles away and most disturbing, while visiting my daughter several hundred miles from me who lives in a very rural area 20 miles from town! I thought I was losing my mind or having high blood pressure symptoms but the noise doesn't seem to originate internally, it's definitely experience as a very exterior sound.

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When we attempt to track down a odd noise or smell we look for a common denominator , Something that keeps popping up whenever there's a strange noise.
OH! I've found one, YOU!

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I should also add that I have been a bodyworker for many years, doing therapies that are quite subtle to the body such as craniosacral therapy which has developed in me an acute sensitivity to internal and external "hearing"

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And you don't think this has anything to do with it? The only explanation for a noise that follows you from place to place is that you produce the noise yourself. I would see a hearing specialist and have him check you out.
I don't think you need a plumber, you need to see a doctor, Good luck, Tom
PS. I can sympathize with you. I have had tinnitus for over 30m years. I carry my ":noise" wherever I go the same as you.

Limited consciousness... both of you. All the best : )