What's that noise? Common house sounds and what they mean
Houses talk. Most of the chirps, drips, gurgles and bangs you hear have a simple cause, and a lot of them are an early warning that's cheap to deal with now. Find the sound below, see what usually causes it, and jump to the fix.
Hear a CO alarm, or smell gas or burning? Get out first. Emergency steps
Chirps and beeps
- A single chirp every 30 to 60 secondsSmoke or CO alarm
Low battery, or the alarm has reached the end of its life.
- Four loud beeps, a pause, then againCarbon monoxide alarm
The alarm has detected CO. Get everyone outside and call 911 from there.
Running water, hissing and drips
- Water running in the toilet tank when nobody flushedToilet
A worn flapper or a fill valve set too high lets water trickle into the bowl.
- The toilet refills by itself every so oftenToilet
A slow leak past the flapper. The food coloring test in our guide confirms it.
- A steady drip from the faucet after it's offSink or tub faucet
A worn cartridge or washer inside the faucet.
- Dripping or hissing under the sinkSink cabinet
A loose supply line, drain nut or dishwasher hose.
- Water dripping near the indoor AC unitFurnace or air handler
A clogged condensate drain backing up into the pan.
Gurgles
- The drain gurgles as water goes downSink, tub or shower
A partial clog is pulling air as water squeezes past it.
- A gurgle in one drain when another drains or the toilet flushesMore than one fixture
Air being pulled through a trap, often from a clog further down or a vent problem. With a sewer smell, start with the traps.
- Gurgling or sloshing in a radiatorRadiator
Air trapped at the top of the radiator.
Bangs, knocks and pops
- Popping or rumbling from the water heaterTank water heater
Sediment at the bottom of the tank; water trapped under it boils and pops.
- Banging during the washer's spin cycleWashing machine
An unbalanced load, uneven feet or, on a new washer, shipping bolts left in.
- A thud or clunk when a faucet or the washer shuts offPipes in the walls
Water hammer: moving water stopping suddenly. Check your water pressure and add arrestors at the washer.
- Pops or ticks from walls and ceilings at nightWalls and ceilings
The house cooling and contracting, sometimes nails working loose in drywall.
Hums and buzzes
- The disposal hums but doesn't spinGarbage disposal
Something is jammed between the plate and the ring.
- A buzz from a dimmer or when lights flickerLight switch or fixture
Often an LED on the wrong dimmer. Buzzing from an outlet or the panel is a job for an electrician.
- The fridge hums or runs almost all the timeRefrigerator
Dusty coils holding in heat, so the compressor rarely rests.
- The sump pump runs over and overSump pump
A stuck float switch or a pump cycling on a small amount of water.
Squeaks and creaks
- A door squeaks every time it opensDoor hinges
A dry hinge pin rubbing metal on metal.
- The floor squeaks in one spotFloors
The subfloor rubbing against a joist or a loose nail.
- A stair creaks when you step on itStairs
A loose tread rubbing on the riser or a nail.
Rattles and clicks
- The ceiling fan clicks or wobblesCeiling fan
A loose blade screw or blades out of balance.
- The bathroom fan rattles or humsBathroom exhaust fan
Dust on the blower wheel or a sticking damper.
- The furnace clicks but the heat never comes onFurnace
Often a filter, a switch or a safety cutoff; check the simple things first.
- The garage door opener clicks but the door doesn't moveGarage
The door may be disconnected, or the opener isn't getting the signal.
Whistles and whooshes
- A whistle around a window on windy daysWindows
Air slipping past worn weatherstripping or cracked caulk.
- Whistling from the air ventsVents and filter
A clogged filter makes the system pull air harder through small gaps.
House noise questions
Why does my house make noises at night?
As the house cools in the evening, wood framing, drywall, pipes and ductwork shrink slightly, and that movement makes pops and ticks. It's normal. Sounds with water, like running, dripping or hissing, are the ones worth tracking down.
Why does my smoke alarm chirp in the middle of the night?
A weak battery struggles most as the house cools off overnight, so the low-battery chirp often starts then. Replace the battery, and if it keeps chirping, check the date on the back; alarms are meant to be replaced after 10 years.
What does a banging noise in the pipes mean?
A thud when a faucet or appliance shuts off is usually water hammer, water stopping suddenly. Banging from a water heater is usually sediment. A loud or new banging sound is worth having a plumber check.
Can't place the sound? Try the troubleshooter or search all fixes.