tracking down noises

Brian Gaff · 2014-01-01T09:26:45+00:00

There is a peculiar noise. IE its one of those very quiet intermittent whirring noises that you can only hear when its quiet at night, and once you know its there, you find it wakes you up. The problem is that its seemingly everywhere and nowhere in that its no louder wherever you go except in the upstairs front rooms. My suspicion is that it is part of next doors central heating that is somehow transmitting the sound through the building, but she can hear nothing she says. Any tricks other than asking her to turn it off and on again, which might well not go down too well? Do others have noises? Add to this of course that you don't it when normal sounds are there in the day. Brian

Jan 01, 2014 26 Replies

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tony sayer 12 years ago

Excellent article that and that bloke Dr Baguley sure knows what he's on about:)..

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Dr David Baguley, head of audiology at Addenbrookes Hospital in Cambridge, estimates that in about a third of cases there is some environmental source for the hum.

But in most cases no external noise can be identified, he said.

Dr Baguley's own theory is that many sufferers' hearing has become over- sensitive.

He said people have an "internal volume control" that helps them amplify quiet sounds in times of threat, danger or intense concentration.

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Brian Gaff 12 years ago

I'm 90 percent certain its the neighbours Central heating. I suddenly remembered the old tumbler against the wall trick, and the loudest noise is now located to the partywall between my airing cupboard and hers. (I'm glad I left enough room here for my head!), and its definitely kind of cyclic noise. I think it is actually going for longer than i said, its as if its only when its nearly ready to cut out that it makes the noise. Weird, as I'd have expected it to be off for longer, but who knows. Brian

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Adrian Brentnall 12 years ago

HI Brian

Could it be a motorised 'zone' valve - that's diverting hot water from their boiler to radiators or hot-water cylinder.

I have one on our heat-pump in the workshop - and it takes a while (possibly 60 seconds ? - I've never timed it) to switch from one position to the other - and it's very much a 'clockwork whirr' while it's operating. I think that some of these valves return to a 'rest' position when you take the power off..? That might be what you are hearing....?

Possibly the motor is wedged against something (wall / woodwork etc) and this is acting as a sounding-board. Bit of carpet offcut between whatever's touching might solve it ?

Adrian

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bert 12 years ago

In message , MattyF writes

Which raises the question if there is no-one there to hear it is there a noise at all?

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polygonum 12 years ago

The argument that there is, appears sound.

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bert 12 years ago

I can't see it.

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Bod 12 years ago

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