Advice Needed, pls - house humming and vibrating 3 years now - What is it?

FamilyHistoryMad

maninthestreet wrote: »

If you can't cure this noise/hum, it may be possible to buy some 'noise cancelling' equipment, that emits sound at a wavelength and frequency that cancels out the background hum/noise.

Thank you for replying.

That is something that we have not looked into - Thank you - I'll add it to the list.

Kind Regards
FHM

FamilyHistoryMad

msmicawber wrote: »

Would this be of any help, FHM? http://noisemapping.defra.gov.uk/wps/portal/noise

Thank you for replying.

I have seen this site before. We can eliminate - Air and industry. Rail is not mapped yet. Road is at most 60-64.9 - we are on a service road so don't really notice the traffic too much - we just to live on a very busy road and when the buses went passed the house used to shake and when they put the sleeping policemen in it was even worse! But the sound and vibration we have now is nothing like that.

I guess the interesting one, is waiting for the rail noise to be mapped - we are about 1 mile away from the railway station so I don't know how much the noise would travel?

Kind Regards
FHM

FamilyHistoryMad

bryanb wrote: »

Do you know what the land under the house consists of? Rock can carry sound for long distances, whereas earth/sand/ gravel would not so much. I have heard the sound you describe around electricity pylons/ transformers. Is the railway nearby electrified?

Thank you for replying.

We understand that the house was built on farm land in the 1930's. Story is that they sold of the top load of soil off and then built the houses. The 'soil' in the garden is clay - quite red - water sits on top of it when it rains but when it is really hot and dry - it dries out and forms cracks.

There are no electricity pylons in the area.

The railway will be electrified, I guess - we are about 1 mile away but surely other people would be complaining who are closer than us? The noise mapping website that was kindly linked to early - unfortunately, rail noise has not yet been mapped.

Kind Regards
FHM

Suzy_M

Few off-the-top-of-my-head-suggestions based on experience -

Have you had an historic environment search done on your location? - May indicate previous underground activity.

Have you checked back through planning applications at your local council? Suggest you go back to five years before the noise started, and a five mile radius, and work forwards in time. These are often available on line. Any major developments also affects the way sound travels in a built-up area.

Check out the Highways Agency site for major roadworks completed in your area. - e.g. Since we had a major trunk road upgraded near us in certain conditions our doors and windows constantly vibrate even though we cannot hear engine noise and the road is two miles away.

Do you know anything about flight paths over your area? e.g. We have a couple of "heavies" go over us each night - We cannot hear the engines until they are directly over us but the doors and windows vibrate long before we see or hear them.

Any industrial units in your area? We suffered from a high pitched whining noise for years and couldn't trace the source. Eventually it was traced to a factory ventilation unit some two miles away, we now don't hear it because a major development has altered the way the sound travels.

As regards your underlying bedrock etc. the British Seismic Survey may be able to provide you with some background.

(Apologies for any cross-posting)

bryanb

FamilyHistoryMad wrote: »

Thank you for replying.

We understand that the house was built on farm land in the 1930's. Story is that they sold of the top load of soil off and then built the houses. The 'soil' in the garden is clay - quite red - water sits on top of it when it rains but when it is really hot and dry - it dries out and forms cracks.

There are no electricity pylons in the area.

The railway will be electrified, I guess - we are about 1 mile away but surely other people would be complaining who are closer than us? The noise mapping website that was kindly linked to early - unfortunately, rail noise has not yet been mapped.

Kind Regards
FHM

As the previous poster who had problems in Portishead said, wavelengths of sounds can make noise/vibration apparent at specific distances, yet not noticeable next door. I still think your problem is arising from something electrical, a transformer is most likely as the hum is continuous. Electrified railways have transformers at intervals of course. Does the noise ever change characteristics? pitch? volume?
I haven't noticed in any of your posts, where you live, are you prepared to tell us? It may give a clue to someone.

Chloe5

What about your house insurance - can't they help with the investigations esp if you need structural engineer. Presumably, you can't be sure if any damage has occurred as a result of the vibration? They could may be also double check the boiler and pipes as that seems to be the only thing that occurred around that time. I don't have much faith in plumbers having recently had 4 plumbers out who all gave me different stories and different prices ranging from £400 to £3,500. Turned out to cost £40 in end. Can you see any visible damage?

Anything change in the area 3 years ago? Might have to search local papers.

An interesting problem.

FamilyHistoryMad

Hitch wrote: »

The hum, have you or the farm(?) or any neighbours got any substantial outside lights? Some HID types can make a fair bit of noise.
That doesnt explain the vibrations though
:undecided

Certain electrical items especially ones with transformers or magnets make a bit of noise, not just mains powered. Have you taken batteries out of everything aswell as switch off the main power?

Any cables outside, electric, phone, that could be whipping in the breeze causing the noise and even some slight vibration? The wires get tensioned up, and can act like a guitar string...same goes for transformers on poles outside..sound travels best through solids the denser the better, so if your outside you may not hear it. If the hum goes through the cables and into your house, the structure of your house could be acting like a soundbox on an instrument, dramatically increasing the volume.

Thank you for your reply.

There is no farmland any more - just that it was farm land when it was built on in the 1930's. The only lights that we and the neighbours have are the security type lights that come on when there is movement.

The only thing we have not taken the battery out of is the house alarm. But we have been told that there is nothing in a house alarm that could cause a humming noise and the house to vibrate? Does anyone know any different? Could the source of the noise be our house alarm?

There are no cables coming to the house apart from those buried under the ground. All the services in this area are underground.

Kind Regards
FHM

TimBuckTeeth

You could try something like a stethoscope or even a piece of hosepipe or a pen (blunt end) stuck in your ear to try and narrow down the source of the noise.
Any of these methods should be quite effective at revealing vibration in the water pipes (by touching the other end on a pipe), or the electricity meter mounting board (but take care near the cables).

Penny_Farthing_2

I think it may be worth putting the rubber mat in for your meter as suggested. Wood amplifies sound and vibration.

Incisor

Chimney acting as an organ pipe with a very slight breeze? Only another thing to try. Does it change with doors open? Did you have any work done related to chimneys or anything when it all started? Try shoving an old coat up your flues, see if it makes a difference.