I’ve started a mysterious noise diary to note the times I hear the mysterious noise associated with this house.
It’s a brief, high-pitched, quavery moaning sound accompanied by a few soft, dull thuds. Seems to be coming from the south-east corner of the loft.
Only last about 3 seconds and always sounds exactly the same.
First entry: 11:08pm. I’ll check tomorrow to see if it occurs at the same time.
I have a few plastic tube flexible duct sort of things that go from the bathrooms & toilet exhaust fans to an external outlet on the roof. With a strong wind outside they clank and bang and make all sorts of noise, even though there is hardly any play in them, having been up there with a ball of string to try and tie them down.
you will be surprised how many small things can make so much noise in the dead of night.
Could it be something associated with wind ?
Look for anything that is loose around the roof areas.
Bubblecar said:
I’ve started a mysterious noise diary to note the times I hear the mysterious noise associated with this house.It’s a brief, high-pitched, quavery moaning sound accompanied by a few soft, dull thuds. Seems to be coming from the south-east corner of the loft.
Only last about 3 seconds and always sounds exactly the same.
First entry: 11:08pm. I’ll check tomorrow to see if it occurs at the same time.
It’s probably a poltergeist.
party_pants said:
I have a few plastic tube flexible duct sort of things that go from the bathrooms & toilet exhaust fans to an external outlet on the roof. With a strong wind outside they clank and bang and make all sorts of noise, even though there is hardly any play in them, having been up there with a ball of string to try and tie them down.you will be surprised how many small things can make so much noise in the dead of night.
I’ve heard this quite often in the day, too. But mainly in this room and the bedroom (both on the south side of the house). In the bedroom, it almost sounds as though it’s coming from the closet (to the east of the bed), but it can’t be because in this room, which is east of the bedroom, it’s still coming from the east.
Doesn’t seem to be associated with wind or plumbing.
It sounds vaguely like a whimpering dog but also uncannily human at times. But also mechanical, because it’s always at the same volume and same brief duration.
party_pants said:
I have a few plastic tube flexible duct sort of things that go from the bathrooms & toilet exhaust fans to an external outlet on the roof. With a strong wind outside they clank and bang and make all sorts of noise, even though there is hardly any play in them, having been up there with a ball of string to try and tie them down.you will be surprised how many small things can make so much noise in the dead of night.
things that go bump in the night.
JudgeMental said:
party_pants said:
I have a few plastic tube flexible duct sort of things that go from the bathrooms & toilet exhaust fans to an external outlet on the roof. With a strong wind outside they clank and bang and make all sorts of noise, even though there is hardly any play in them, having been up there with a ball of string to try and tie them down.you will be surprised how many small things can make so much noise in the dead of night.
things that go bump in the night.
I find that once the source of the noise is discovered it loses its mystery.
party_pants said:
JudgeMental said:
party_pants said:
I have a few plastic tube flexible duct sort of things that go from the bathrooms & toilet exhaust fans to an external outlet on the roof. With a strong wind outside they clank and bang and make all sorts of noise, even though there is hardly any play in them, having been up there with a ball of string to try and tie them down.you will be surprised how many small things can make so much noise in the dead of night.
things that go bump in the night.
I find that once the source of the noise is discovered it loses its mystery.
that’s why i never go looking. i like to be petrified all the time.
JudgeMental said:
party_pants said:
JudgeMental said:things that go bump in the night.
I find that once the source of the noise is discovered it loses its mystery.
that’s why i never go looking. i like to be petrified all the time.
Oh, how I sometimes do wish that you were petrified.
sibeen said:
JudgeMental said:
party_pants said:I find that once the source of the noise is discovered it loses its mystery.
that’s why i never go looking. i like to be petrified all the time.
Oh, how I sometimes do wish that you were petrified.
heh.
Water heater?
Bubblecar said:
I’ve started a mysterious noise diary to note the times I hear the mysterious noise associated with this house.It’s a brief, high-pitched, quavery moaning sound accompanied by a few soft, dull thuds. Seems to be coming from the south-east corner of the loft.
Only last about 3 seconds and always sounds exactly the same.
First entry: 11:08pm. I’ll check tomorrow to see if it occurs at the same time.
LOL. Definitely not an animal.
Bubblecar said:
I’ve started a mysterious noise diary to note the times I hear the mysterious noise associated with this house.It’s a brief, high-pitched, quavery moaning sound accompanied by a few soft, dull thuds. Seems to be coming from the south-east corner of the loft.
Only last about 3 seconds and always sounds exactly the same.
First entry: 11:08pm. I’ll check tomorrow to see if it occurs at the same time.
Your electricity meter calling home with its data.
:)
Do you have smart meters in Tassie?
Do you have a belfry? It’s bats. Bat’s I’m telling ya. It’s bats.
Sounds like a hot water system. Pressure relief valve?
You should record it and allow us all to listen. That should give you many varied, highly competent, and correct, expert answers.
And keep everybody amused for days.
Michael V said:
You should record it and allow us all to listen. That should give you many varied, highly competent, and correct, expert answers.And keep everybody amused for days.
:)
Firstly is it a moaning sound or a clucking sound?
Witty Rejoinder said:
Firstly is it a moaning sound or a clucking sound?
nods
home to roost.
astronaut 1: hey mate, can’t find any milk for my coffee!
astronaut 2: in space no one can. here use cream.
buffy said:
Bubblecar said:
I’ve started a mysterious noise diary to note the times I hear the mysterious noise associated with this house.It’s a brief, high-pitched, quavery moaning sound accompanied by a few soft, dull thuds. Seems to be coming from the south-east corner of the loft.
Only last about 3 seconds and always sounds exactly the same.
First entry: 11:08pm. I’ll check tomorrow to see if it occurs at the same time.
Your electricity meter calling home with its data.
:)
Ah, I didn’t know they did that. And that it made that noise if they did.
But the other day I actually investigated that side of the house on the outside to see if there’s anything there in the right place that could be causing that noise. And the only thing is the electricity meter…
…but I concluded it couldn’t be that because electricity meters don’t make moaning noises and soft thumping noises.
But buffy says they do.
JudgeMental said:
astronaut 1: hey mate, can’t find any milk for my coffee!
astronaut 2: in space no one can. here use cream.
Boris, give…oh, wait.
JudgeMental said:
astronaut 1: hey mate, can’t find any milk for my coffee!
astronaut 2: in space no one can. here use cream.
Oh dear.
JudgeMental said:
astronaut 1: hey mate, can’t find any milk for my coffee!
astronaut 2: in space no one can. here use cream.
It was so finny nobody could post in the correct thread for 10 minutes.
Assuming buffy’s right, and these devices send their data at the same time(s) each day, I’ll go out there tonight around 11:05 and listen by the meter door.
JudgeMental said:
astronaut 1: hey mate, can’t find any milk for my coffee!
astronaut 2: in space no one can. here use cream.
Just keep talking, I’ll go and start the car.
Bubblecar said:
buffy said:
Bubblecar said:
I’ve started a mysterious noise diary to note the times I hear the mysterious noise associated with this house.It’s a brief, high-pitched, quavery moaning sound accompanied by a few soft, dull thuds. Seems to be coming from the south-east corner of the loft.
Only last about 3 seconds and always sounds exactly the same.
First entry: 11:08pm. I’ll check tomorrow to see if it occurs at the same time.
Your electricity meter calling home with its data.
:)
Ah, I didn’t know they did that. And that it made that noise if they did.
But the other day I actually investigated that side of the house on the outside to see if there’s anything there in the right place that could be causing that noise. And the only thing is the electricity meter…
…but I concluded it couldn’t be that because electricity meters don’t make moaning noises and soft thumping noises.
But buffy says they do.
To be honest, I can’t remember exactly what the noise they make is, but When we were first changed to a smart meter at home, we heard it at a regular time each night, and when we were changed to a smart meter at work we also heard it do its thing at a certain time each day. Thinking about it, I don’t notice it now, but I may have got to ignoring it. Or perhaps they are doing it at a different time. But the smart meters do make noises.
Bubblecar said:
I’ve started a mysterious noise diary to note the times I hear the mysterious noise associated with this house.It’s a brief, high-pitched, quavery moaning sound accompanied by a few soft, dull thuds. Seems to be coming from the south-east corner of the loft.
Only last about 3 seconds and always sounds exactly the same.
First entry: 11:08pm. I’ll check tomorrow to see if it occurs at the same time.
Does it answer to “Rodney”?
Bubblecar said:
First entry: 11:08pm. I’ll check tomorrow to see if it occurs at the same time.
Well, it didn’t. But assuming it’s the electricity meter (and I can’t see what else it could be) it presumably makes that noise after a certain number of units have been used or suchlike, rather than at the same times each day.
Bubblecar said:
Bubblecar said:
First entry: 11:08pm. I’ll check tomorrow to see if it occurs at the same time.
Well, it didn’t. But assuming it’s the electricity meter (and I can’t see what else it could be) it presumably makes that noise after a certain number of units have been used or suchlike, rather than at the same times each day.
Hmm, if that is the case then we need to break this down scientifically.
This diary is going to have to become way more extensive that was originally envisaged.
Firstly, you’ll need to go to all your appliances and light fittings and record there electrical power consumption. I would have prefferred that these actually be measured, but in the first instance we’ll have to work with bubbles’ ineptitude, take it into account, and move on.
Secondly, and this is the important bit, you’ll need to carry the diary with you at all times. If you walk into a room and turn on a light, make a note of it. When you leave the room and the light goes off, ditto. Washing machine, toaster, dryer, computer, iron, hairdryer, stove (if electric) etc must have their usage monitored exactly. Things like fridges are a bit problematic as there are many variables involved in their power consumption. I think that as a minimum we can restrict it to you weighing the total mass in the fridge and freezer sections as individual variables, updated with time and weight whenever there is a change. The room temperature on an hourly basis should also be noted, and from these a rough calculation can be performed as a first order scientific wild arsed guess (SWAG) on the total daily energy that is used by your refrigerator. This will be tallied with your diary entries giving a total energy usage per diem. From this we may have a rough chance of determining whether the electrical meter is in any way involved with the existing conundrum.
This may take a few months, and be a tad onerous, but I’m certain that this way lies some resolution to the current mystery.
Bubblecar said:
Bubblecar said:
First entry: 11:08pm. I’ll check tomorrow to see if it occurs at the same time.
Well, it didn’t. But assuming it’s the electricity meter (and I can’t see what else it could be) it presumably makes that noise after a certain number of units have been used or suchlike, rather than at the same times each day.
Do you have off-peak hot water?
Our tenants complained that the electricity bill was too high, and checking the times found that it was odd hours during the night, and not every night. The problem was tracked down to off-peak hot water.
> It’s a brief, high-pitched, quavery moaning sound accompanied by a few soft, dull thuds. Seems to be coming from the south-east corner of the loft. Only last about 3 seconds and always sounds exactly the same.
If not the electricity meter, all I can suggest is thermal expansion and contraction. The soft dull thuds could be buckling or straightening out of some sheet metal and the high pitched quavery moaning sound also that of metal sheet. What time, and whether it occurs would depend on the atmospheric temperature, but the sound would be the same every time it occurs.
This is not the first time I’ve wished there was a device for localising sound, sort of like a disco ball with parabolic reflectors in place of each mirror. Other times have mostly been when trying to locate an unusual sound within a car.
Bubblecar said:
Bubblecar said:
First entry: 11:08pm. I’ll check tomorrow to see if it occurs at the same time.
Well, it didn’t. But assuming it’s the electricity meter (and I can’t see what else it could be) it presumably makes that noise after a certain number of units have been used or suchlike, rather than at the same times each day.
Oh well, it was an idea. And as I said yesterday, I can’t remember the exact noise ours made/makes. I’ll have to listen and see if it is still doing it. But they were both pretty regular at one stage. I presumed it was because the smart meter was set to report home. Perhaps it is ‘called’ by its master when the master decides.
buffy said:
Bubblecar said:
Bubblecar said:
First entry: 11:08pm. I’ll check tomorrow to see if it occurs at the same time.
Well, it didn’t. But assuming it’s the electricity meter (and I can’t see what else it could be) it presumably makes that noise after a certain number of units have been used or suchlike, rather than at the same times each day.
Oh well, it was an idea. And as I said yesterday, I can’t remember the exact noise ours made/makes. I’ll have to listen and see if it is still doing it. But they were both pretty regular at one stage. I presumed it was because the smart meter was set to report home. Perhaps it is ‘called’ by its master when the master decides.
it sounds a bit like a pressure relief valve we used to have on a hot water system..
the groan was the valve opening slightly and the pressure relieving, then it would shut, inducing 3 clunks of water hammer in the system
Stumpy_seahorse said:
buffy said:
Bubblecar said:Well, it didn’t. But assuming it’s the electricity meter (and I can’t see what else it could be) it presumably makes that noise after a certain number of units have been used or suchlike, rather than at the same times each day.
Oh well, it was an idea. And as I said yesterday, I can’t remember the exact noise ours made/makes. I’ll have to listen and see if it is still doing it. But they were both pretty regular at one stage. I presumed it was because the smart meter was set to report home. Perhaps it is ‘called’ by its master when the master decides.
it sounds a bit like a pressure relief valve we used to have on a hot water system..
the groan was the valve opening slightly and the pressure relieving, then it would shut, inducing 3 clunks of water hammer in the system
It is what I said.
>First entry: 11:08pm.
Funnily enough I haven’t heard it all since that entry.
Bubblecar said:
>First entry: 11:08pm.Funnily enough I haven’t heard it all since that entry.
heard it all = heard it at all
Bubblecar said:
Bubblecar said:
>First entry: 11:08pm.Funnily enough I haven’t heard it all since that entry.
heard it all = heard it at all
Pretend to go out and then sneak back in and listen, this is the weird noise right ?
Bubblecar said:
>First entry: 11:08pm.Funnily enough I haven’t heard it all since that entry.
Perhaps because the weather’s getting hotter at night. If it’s caused by thermal contraction.
mollwollfumble said:
Bubblecar said:
>First entry: 11:08pm.Funnily enough I haven’t heard it all since that entry.
Perhaps because the weather’s getting hotter at night. If it’s caused by thermal contraction.
No I’m pretty sure buffy’s right and it’s coming from the electricity meter. But at irregular times.
Bubblecar said:
mollwollfumble said:
Bubblecar said:
>First entry: 11:08pm.Funnily enough I haven’t heard it all since that entry.
Perhaps because the weather’s getting hotter at night. If it’s caused by thermal contraction.
No I’m pretty sure buffy’s right and it’s coming from the electricity meter. But at irregular times.
Could you set up a chair in front of it and watch it until it happens, it could take hours or even days but perseverance is the key, forgo food, drink and the bathroom until it happens again.
Cymek said:
Bubblecar said:
mollwollfumble said:Perhaps because the weather’s getting hotter at night. If it’s caused by thermal contraction.
No I’m pretty sure buffy’s right and it’s coming from the electricity meter. But at irregular times.
Could you set up a chair in front of it and watch it until it happens, it could take hours or even days but perseverance is the key, forgo food, drink and the bathroom until it happens again.
I’m not that into it, and the neighbours would talk.
Bubblecar said:
mollwollfumble said:
Bubblecar said:
>First entry: 11:08pm.Funnily enough I haven’t heard it all since that entry.
Perhaps because the weather’s getting hotter at night. If it’s caused by thermal contraction.
No I’m pretty sure buffy’s right and it’s coming from the electricity meter. But at irregular times.
Well, in that case, you could trigger it by using up all your hot water in one day (long shower & wash the sheets in hot water). To force it to call home for off-peak.