Low Frequency Humming/Vibration Sound

maxreturn · Oct 12, 2009, 06:14 AM

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

maxreturn · Oct 20, 2009, 09:15 AM

Quote:

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

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

Milo Dolezal · Oct 20, 2009, 09:25 AM

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 ...

maxreturn · Oct 22, 2009, 05:46 AM

Quote:

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

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

maxreturn · Oct 22, 2009, 05:50 AM

Quote:

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 ...

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?

Quote:

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

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.