Eight strange sounds in your home that you shouldn’t ignore

By Jacqueline Wake Young

November 9 2022, 11:45 am

The sound of dripping water is one of the noises that could indicate a disaster waiting to happen.

From whispering walls to creaking floorboards, homes can make strange noises, but building experts warn there are some sounds that should not be ignored.

Trade and DIY supplier Toolstation has put together a list of common sounds in the home that can indicate a potential problem.

Scratching in walls

This is most likely a pest problem. Rats or mice may have found their way into the home via an opening or small hole in the foundations.

The first step would be to call pest control for an estimated cost of £90-£240.

If ignored, pests could create a nest and start chewing through wires, causing more serious problems and raising costs as you’d have to call out an electrician.

Mice and rats can chew through wires creating a bigger problem for homeowners.

Hissing from the radiator

This is water or air moving through the heating system. Bleeding the radiator can be done with a radiator key that costs between £1-£3.

However, if the hissing is accompanied by banging and thumping, a heating engineer will be needed to investigate further.

Bleeding a radiator is a relatively cheap and easy job to do.

Rustling in the guttering

This could be a range of things, but it’s most likely pests, birds or worse, a leak. A leaking gutter can be due to unwanted holes in the pipes, a broken bracket, or a failed seal.

This would call for a gutter servicing professional to take a look, costing an estimate of £120-180.

Fixing the issue straight away could save a lot of money down the line.

A rustling in the guttering may mean it’s time to call in a professional.

Bubbling or popping from the boiler

This could be low water pressure or, more seriously, kettling.

This is when the heat exchanged overheats and produces steam bubbles.

When the bubbles move to a colder area, they make this bubbling sound.

If it is the latter, this would require calling in a heating professional and an estimate of £75-£300 to fix.

Sometimes boilers need specialist attention.

Whistling window

This is most likely caused by a draught pouring through badly fitted doors and windows, or broken seals and draught excluders.

It’s usually an easy and cheap fix.

Window sealants and draught excluders can be installed costing approximately £5-£10.

Attaching a rubber draught strip is one solution for a whistling window.

Dripping water

This could be the beginning of a DIY disaster, especially if it’s coming from the ceiling or the boiler.

It’s always good to investigate. Anything from a dripping tap to a busted water pipe, switching off the electrics and calling a plumber to find the source of the problem is always a good first step.

Having the problem fixed could initially cost £160-£360, but leaving the problem to worsen will only increase that cost.

Bizarre buzzing

If you’re hearing a buzzing in your home, especially when the lights are on, you could have an issue with your wiring.

From a loose connection coming from the outlet or fixture, or a failed switch, the first step would always be to switch off the power and call an electrician.

Floorboards look attractive but can be annoying if they creak.

Creaky floorboards

Temperature changes in the home can cause wood to expand and boards to rub against each other.

The Toolstation expert said: “If a floorboard has been incorrectly fastened, this just requires going in and refastening it – a very quick and simple job!”