Constant very low-level whining noise in house

moneyistooshorttomention

I've recently noticed VERY low-level noise in my house and am wondering what the cause of it is in order to stop it. It is a bit of a "whine" is the best way to describe it and I think is what I would call a "modern era noise" (ie obviously from some sort of modern technology or other).

If there's anything else at all making any sound I don't hear it, but when I am expecting silence to sleep and there is no other noise, then I hear it constantly and it disturbs the silence there would otherwise be. It's there throughout the house now, and if I were to switch my computer off, then I would hear it but, at the moment, the "white noise" from the computer is sufficient to mask it.

It's not tinnitus (I don't have that) or The Hum.

Have other people had this and what did they find out caused it and how was it resolved?

Right now, I'm suspecting my central heating system (which is, in effect, always on as it's controls are such that it will automatically come on if temperature goes beneath 10C). I also wonder about the narrower-than-normal pipes this central heating system has and whether somehow there is a bit less water than normal running through those pipes.

Other suspect is that, in this area, some of the electric cables are above ground slung between wooden poles (ie rather than underground) and the electric supply to my house is duly coming from a cable slung in mid-air between two of these wooden poles. I know noise is heard underneath those big electric pylons, but this is only one little cable and I've not heard this noise before (though I've lived here over a year).

Who else has had this particular noise? What did the cause turn out to be? What did they do to resolve it?

lovinituk

I get that whining noise in my house too. It's the wife!

Enterprise_1701C

Can you cut the power entirely to your house for a short while? Just thinking that is probably the best way to eliminate anything electrical within your house.

moneyistooshorttomention

One of my thoughts on trying to track down this noise is to try an experiment of switching everything electrical off (ie at a time when I don't need lights on) and see if I can still hear it.

Also, I wasn't planning on having the central heating serviced this year (ie to save money) because much of it is only about a year old (new boiler and new radiators at that time), but am wondering whether to do so after all and specifically ask for an engineer with good hearing (because anyone with damaged hearing might not hear this noise).

Other thoughts are that its what I imagine wind would sound like if it was coming through a narrow pipe constantly 24/7. This is a rather windy time of year in this area, but I wouldn't think its that or it wouldn't be a 24/7 thing. So don't think it would be down to wind whistling through new things I've had put on the chimneys some months back.

Ant555

As already suggested the best way of eliminating a whole host of possibilities is to cut the power completely or turn off any suspected items.
Could it be
- a radio that is emitting noise through the speakers even when off
- some battery powered device that is in a cupboard somewhere
- an eco-bulb gone a bit rogue
- phone charger
- gas meter
- a dimmer switch (either one on the wall or one attached to the cable of a lamp)
- something in a box in the loft
- singing mice

moneyistooshorttomention

Now presumably those mice would be giving a rousing chorus of "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" at this time of year?:rotfl:

Will check out all individual devices as well. I have my doubts on that, because I can hear this noise throughout the house, but to cover all angles will do so...

Dan-Dan

The fridge/freezer ?

dianasnan

timer for christmas tree lights? My one makes a slight humming noise

lindens

I had this and it turned out to be an extension lead i was using for the PC - it was one of those with a red on/off light. i couldnt hear it all over the house though

adonis

Also, I wasn't planning on having the central heating serviced this year (ie to save money) because much of it is only about a year old (new boiler and new radiators at that time)

I would have it serviced as it may affect any warranty you have.

moneyistooshorttomention

lindens wrote: »

I had this and it turned out to be an extension lead i was using for the PC - it was one of those with a red on/off light. i couldnt hear it all over the house though

More thoughts there. I have recently had a printer put in near my p.c., complete with a surge protector on the plug. Wonders?......

though, as you say, you couldn't hear yours all over the house. My study (ie where computer is) is right next to my bedroom. However, the noise is also there in the lounge and that's the other side of the house (mind you...it is only a pretty small house = 2 bedroom bungalow, so certainly not a mansion by any manner of means).

Other thoughts were that I read about some people being able to "hear" their neighbours wireless p.c. Seemed an odd thought to me but I suppose you never know. I don't have wireless internet myself (its the full old-style cabled-up job), but someone recently went round my house checking where wireless internet signals were showing up and the next door neighbour does have wireless internet on their nearest wall to me and they were picking up their signal throughout the house and part of my garden. The noise seems to be loudest in the lounge and that is the nearest room to them...but, on the other hand, I have a main lounge fire in there with a chimney behind it (though the noise is nothing like I could hear sometimes in a similar set-up in my last house).

There is also a chimney outlet in the kitchen in this house (ie where I had a Rayburn cooker removed and hole in wall where Rayburn pipe was has been plastered over - apart from a hole left for ventilation with a grille fitted over it). That is now back behind the fridge and freezer I have now put in the Rayburn's former space.

Will check out the fridge and freezer too. I've had them both for about a year, but its possible that one of them has started playing up.