[phanna]

At loss as to what the mysterious noise I'm hearing in my house is. Have eliminated its relationship to septic system, electric, roof, water main, plumbing fixtures and neighbor's pool equipment. It's hard to tell whether it's vibration that generates the noise or vice versa. With all those things being eliminated I'm wondering if it could be related to underground pipes... like pipes in my foundation or something. It's driving me nuts. Can't even sleep in my bedroom. End up sleeping in family room in a recliner where I can still hear it, but not as much as in the bedroom. What would it take to find out if there's something in the house's pipes? And if they're under the foundation what in the world can I do? I sure need some help.

[Milo Dolezal]

Phanna: first, you have to tell us something about your house and your house plumbing. Also are you on slab or raised foundation. Do you have copper or gal or plastic or pex pipes ? How about water heater ? Do you have hot water circulating pump ? And most importantly: be more specific about the noise: when, where, how, etc.

[VolklGuy]

What about the furnace? Is that running? Do you have hot water radiators? It's got to be something in the pipes or plumbing. Is there a quarry near by?

[phanna]

House is 3,000 sf ranch-style house on slab. In Texas in an area with unstable ground. Two water heaters, one for each end of the house. Don't know what kind of pipes. House built in 2000. Noise is almost like road noise or, as other's have described it, fog horn. Most prevalent at night and wee hours of the morning. Sometimes comes in waves, almost pulsating. Can't hear any of the noise outside. Driving me crazy. I don't live near an airport, quarry or any industry. Out in the country in a "subdivision" of acre-lot properties.

[KBC]

Do your neighbors hear anything like what you describe?

[phanna]

Oops... forgot to answer a couple other questions. I have an air-conditioning/heating unit at each end of the house. Had service check on them last week. All okay. Don't run the heating though... can't afford to. No radiator.

[phanna]

Neighbors don't seem to hear this. Thought it was my one neighbor's pool equipment, but then he turned everything off and the noise prevailed. Another house 3 doors down has a pool too and it sounds like their equipment is really loud, but people next to them don't hear the noise I'm hearing and I can't imagine how it could travel from them to me, skipping two houses.

[Milo Dolezal]

What appliance is running at night: A/C ? Pool Pump? Ceiling Fan ? Hot water circulating pump? Others ?

Since you are on slab, I don't thing noise is coming from pipes under ground. Something running is touching wall, or pipe and vibration transfers through out the house. Noise is prevalent at night bcs at night noise pollution is down.

Heater is usually located either in the attic or its own closet. If you run A/C than it runs though the coil that is attached to the furnace and its fan.

[phanna]

Nothing running at night. TV, that's all. How in the world can I find out what may be touching a pipe and transferring the vibration?

[VolklGuy]

Ahh.. That's a pretty new house. What about the expansion tank? Or a radon system?

[Milo Dolezal]

Phanna: aren't you the one who posted similar question few days ago thinking the source of the noise is your neighbor's pool equipment ?

[phanna]

I don't know what expansion tank or radon system are.

[phanna]

Milo - yes that's me! I finally was able to talk to my neighbor. He told me tonight his system was turned off. I could still hear the noise, so am back to square one again.

[VolklGuy]

An expansion tank is about the size of a basketball or a volleyball. Kind of looks like a little tank inline with your water pipes I think.

[Milo Dolezal]

Ok Phanna, define the noise : vibration or whistle like ? Is it continuous ? High pitched? Does it sound 24/7 ?

[phanna]

VolklGuy.. geez, I wouldn't even know where to look. I guess this is something I should ask a plumber about, huh? Would this have something to do with the noise?

[KBC]

I have a water pump with my well system that makes noises while refilling,found out the water shut-offs for replacing the appliances was the culprit,I closed and opened all shut-offs and it disappeared,might have been the washers not seating correctly after many years of not being changed.

Things that could cause vibrations:

As was asked already,

Furnace/ A/C unit.

Water heater.

Refrigerator.

Overdrawn electrical outlets.

Earthquake.

Underground water.

I know some of this sounds far fetched,but... you never know till you look.

[phanna]

Milo - This is a vibrating noise. It's goes from pulsating to solid runs. It's low-pitched, reminiscent of the noise you'd hear if someone playing music with a lot of bass in it pulled up next to your car. Putting pillows over my head or earplugs in my ears doesn't make it go away.

[phanna]

Thanks, KBC. Thought I'd had everything checked, but the things on your list I don't recognize, I will. Thank you.

[VolklGuy]

Do you even have basements in Texas?