Can't sleep due to buzzing noise in house...

LegacyUser

Apologies, I am most likely in the wrong forum, just I cant find a forum on house or electrical issues. There has been a constant humming sound in my house for the last year, could live with it until the last week, as it is now 24 hours a day. It is so bad that despite ear plugs and however tired I am, it wakes me up out of my sleep. My electrician is away for six weeks on holidays and my partner is reluctant to get anyone else in. This is the other part of the problem though - my partner can hardly hear it and this is causing huge arguments.My partner is slightly deaf in one ear and my own hearing is very acute. I would be the first to admit that if I heard this from someone, I would think it could be in their own head, even tinnitus but I know it isnt. Obviously, when Im in work and that be can be a very quiet environment, I dont hear any buzzing sound.

I suppose the personal part of this problem is the rows with my partner over this, and the house in general. We bought an old money pit of a house at the height of the boom and being complete novices, never realised how much work was needed on it until the deal was done. So I think my partner is terrified and angry at having to spend more money on the house, he just goes mental when I mention anything that might need to be done, so with this buzzing sound now, despite the fact Im in bits from lack of sleep, he doesnt want to know.

Sorry, I know Im all over the place. I will just bypass him and get an electrician in next week, just does anyone know what the problem might be? Ive googled and researched other forums and it seems it could be any number of things. The house is 1970s, my dad thinks the wiring in the walls might be worn down and could be buzzing for that reason. Secondly we have a timer switch for lights to come and off, it does buzz but its been there for over a year and it never bothered us before now. The other thing is we got foam insulation put into the exterior walls about six months ago and another suggestion was that maybe the foam might have damaged some wires? I read somewhere else it could even be the wiring to the door bell.

If anyone can help, I would so appreciate it.

Wibbs

Here are the forums that may help; http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=875.

LegacyUser

its usually a transformer type device that causes it
first thing to do is plug out everything in the house including mobile phone chargers etc
if the problem still persists check the lighting an old faulty light could generate that sound
some electronics in heating system generate noise aswell
worst case senario its the wiring or fuseboard,bad componets or connection
you really would need an electrican or someone that knows electronics well to figure it out
but as i said start knocking things off till you find the source
it might not even be your house could be something close by

Pete67

OK, there are a few things you can do yourself before call in in an electrician. Firstly, find the Comsumer Unit (fuseboard) and switch off everything - there is usually a master switch with a fuse build in - switch it off. If the noise stops, then you've confirmed it's electrical. Switch on the master switch again.

Now start swtiching off the circuit breakers individually (or removing the fuses if it's a very old fuseboard) one at a time and see when the noise stops again. Now you have identified which circuit is causing it, and you can start to narrow it down to each device supplied from that circuit.

It's very unlikely that the noise is coming from cables in the walls or ceilings. The most likely cause is a transformer or something with a small motor or coil in it - things to check:

Shaver sockets
Bathroom lights with shaver sockets.
Central heating control valves (prob in the hot press)
Room Thermostats for heating system
Contactors for electric heating (especially for storage heaters if you have them)
All small appliances such as TVs, radios, hifi, phone chargers
PCs and networking devices
Laptop chargers
Transformer for doorbell (often in the comsumer unit (fusebox) in newer houses, could be anywhere in older ones)
Fridge or freezer
Time switches

PirateShampoo

What sort of Foam insulation was it?

Most foams are non corrosive so it wouldnt be that. But it does sound like a electrical buzz, if its a old house is the wiring old in it?

pixbyjohn

Check the following

Flourescent lights the transformers and the starters sometimes make noise.

Phone chargers left plugged in and switched on.

If your meter is inside the house and old it can generate noise.

Your central heating unit has some noise generating components too.

Also some people are more prone to hear electrical noises than others and there is no cure for this as far as I know.

Hope this helps, if you ever find a solution please post.

LegacyUser

OP here, thank you so much for the quick replies.Ok, I talked to my OH, we switched off the power at source - the noise is still there. OH went out of the house and thought (but isnt certain) that he could hear a slight humming from the wires under the bedroom window of our house. I rang the ESB and they are sending someone to check on poles, cables next week. I rang Bord Gais about if it possibly could be pipes but as i was speaking to the guy, I didnt have the gas on and still could hear the noise and he said it also sounds electrical to him.He said that even with our power turned off, the humming could be from a circuit in the house and only an electrician could look at that. He also said that sometimes noise like this can be notoriously difficult to locate and even if located, to be reduced.

I admit I am very sensitive to noise but I can live with most things and have ear plugs. This
noise though is very penetrating, for me anyway.

As I am clueless about all this, in light of the above information, does anyone have any other advice/information? I still cant figure out if its in the house or outside the house, it sounds very like its coming from within the house. As its in the box room (which doesnt adjoin the neighbouring house), we dont think its next door either, though is that possible also?

cantdecide

I have sensitive hearing too and I know your pain. In a chemist you can get earplugs intended for dealing with snorers (oh I love my new house, btw) and they are twice as effective as garden variety earplugs. They are expensive but soft enought to wear all night without discomfort and really effective. Get some today. You can thank me in the morning....

Overheal

I can live with most things but those electric hums and dims pitch that perfect range of frequency (from hell) - I can hear my laptop when its in Sleep Mode while plugged into the charger, the little whine follows the rythym of the on/off light. It drives me mental sometimes. o_o

Disappointing that it wasnt something simpler. But it is one of those things that needs to be looked at, especially if its gotten worse over time, as that can be a sign of something worse going on. I've had electronics that went like that, started sounding from bad to worse until finally one of my old chargers just stopped working right, and fed electricity back into everything around it - lamps, speakers, my computer started acting funny.. on a housewide scale it could cause real damage if not looked at. So don't doubt yourself for spending the time/money on looking into it.

bobbbb

Go to a really loud heavy metal concert.
Stand right up at the speakers like you see the idiots doing.

By the time you come home, you should never ever hear that noise again.

Saruman

I have a quick question. Do you have an alarm system? Remember that these are powered by battery when the power is off so it is possible it might be something to do with that too.

Overheal

Saruman wrote: »

I have a quick question. Do you have an alarm system? Remember that these are powered by battery when the power is off so it is possible it might be something to do with that too.

Direct Current devices and batteries IME rarely if ever emit sound. Its usually AC Transformers more than anything. The only glaring exception I can think of is a Cordless Drill while its in use.

Pete67

You mentioned wires under the bedroom window possibly making this noise? Does the ESB supply come into your house via overhead cables, maybe from a pole mounted transformer close by? And are those cables fixed near the bedroom window? If so, noise from the ESB transformer could be conducted along the wires and into the wall of your house. It would be very difficult to locate the source of the sound if this is the case, as the whole wall could be vibrating at 50Hz. The ESB should fix this free of charge, probably by replacing the transformer.

LegacyUser

Pete67, I could be wrong but I think you have thrown some light on the problem for me. We looked at the three bedroom windows from the outside of the house and there is a cable/wire going down alongside each window. When we go into each room, if we go to the part of the wall of the room where the cable is located, the noise is loudest there. One of the cables is running down our neighbours wall but alongside our bedroom window, so Im not sure if that would be difficult to sort out (they are not the most approachable).

Do you know if it would be difficult for the ESB to sort this out? Thanks a million for your post, like I said I could be wrong but it makes the most sense, at the moment.

ParkRunner

I can only sympathise with you OP! I moved into a rented house recently and the immersion analogue timer is in my room and constantly ticks. I can generally sleep through it but sometimes it feels like the ticking is amplified and I just can't nod off. Hopefully a digital timer will sort it out.
Best of luck getting the problem fixed and enjoying a good nights sleep! Sleep deprivation can really have a negative affect on quality of life!

LegacyUser

OP again - disaster this evening. The ESB guy called around and the cables are not ESB, they are phone and NTL cables. All our ESB cables are underground.So I couldnt get them moved even if I wanted to. He could hear a slight humming sound while he was in the house but admitted his hearing isnt great and that to him, it wasnt that loud.
He hadnt heard that foam insulation might be a conductor of noise but on looking at the cables and where they are located (also next to vents), he said to check with the insulation company that did our insulation.

I am going to get an electrician in tomorrow anyway, just in case anything has been missed. My absolute dread however is that we have spent thousands on foam insulation, only for it to be turning our house into a kind of torture place at night, for sleeping in, it really is that bad at night time.

Someone suggested ear plugs - I had already been using the wax expensive ones mentioned, before all this. This sound cuts right through the ear plugs, thats how high pitched it is.

I dont mean to sound over dramatic but I feel like I am going mad at this stage, from sleep deprivation and no clue what to do.

I have even thought about trying to get the insulation out of one wall to see if it would make a difference but my husband thinks that that is impossible and Id say he is right. I am at my wits end, I really am.

Silverfish

Pete67 wrote: »

OK, there are a few things you can do yourself before call in in an electrician. Firstly, find the Comsumer Unit (fuseboard) and switch off everything - there is usually a master switch with a fuse build in - switch it off. If the noise stops, then you've confirmed it's electrical. Switch on the master switch again.

Now start swtiching off the circuit breakers individually (or removing the fuses if it's a very old fuseboard) one at a time and see when the noise stops again. Now you have identified which circuit is causing it, and you can start to narrow it down to each device supplied from that circuit.

It's very unlikely that the noise is coming from cables in the walls or ceilings. The most likely cause is a transformer or something with a small motor or coil in it - things to check:

Shaver sockets
Bathroom lights with shaver sockets.
Central heating control valves (prob in the hot press)
Room Thermostats for heating system
Contactors for electric heating (especially for storage heaters if you have them)
All small appliances such as TVs, radios, hifi, phone chargers
PCs and networking devices
Laptop chargers
Transformer for doorbell (often in the comsumer unit (fusebox) in newer houses, could be anywhere in older ones)
Fridge or freezer
Time switches

OP, did you try this?

antiskeptic

Hi OP

Did you follow up on the buzzing noise located at a specific place on the wall? It would appear to be a good lead for you.

A way to help amplify the sound so as to further locate the sounds source would be holding the open end of a glass against the wall and placing your ear to the closed end that way you can track more exactly to the source. Else something hard like a hardhandled screwdriver with the handle held tight against the bone to the front of your ear and the blade held against the wall/door/window/whatever

I'm not sure what circuits could still be live in the house with the mains power turned off and you say the sound is still there with mains turned off. Is there an alarm box on the outside of the house in the locality of the noise - they have battery backups which would continue to power things even with the mains power off. Has your neighbour got such a box in the locality?

Overheal

Unregistered wrote: »

OP again - disaster this evening. The ESB guy called around and the cables are not ESB, they are phone and NTL cables. All our ESB cables are underground.So I couldnt get them moved even if I wanted to. He could hear a slight humming sound while he was in the house but admitted his hearing isnt great and that to him, it wasnt that loud.

I'd call that Bullsh!t. Maybe they are ESB lines and Maybe they're not though. Follow up on it and find out who is responsible for what is likely this faulty transformer up on a pole. If you ring up Eirecom and NTL they'll be able to tell you one way or another. Do you know if any of your neighbours might be experiencing the same problem? That would be a sure way to rule out a problem at the pole.

Amy33

I've been in the same position twice and ended up moving house both times! I was only renting though so it wasn't any big deal to move.

LegacyUser

OP again - a neighbour came in and went all around the house listening. He got me to put my ear up against my windows - I could definitely hear a strong sound. A new motor way opened up only two weeks ago, a mile from my house and my neighbour thinks that my windows are vibrating from the noise of the motorway and bouncing them back into the walls. He could describe the sound Ive been hearing but only when he put his ear to the windows.

Could he be right? He has foam insulation himself and worked as an electrician and said the foarm shouldnt have disturbed cables. I think he may be right because it was windy last night and I noticed that the humming last night was really bad, even my partner was kept awake by it.

If this is correct (still have NTL and the alarm to be checked), would it be worth changing the windows (which are double glazed but came with the house, we had been told before that we should change them) to better windows?

I am very down at this knowledge, cant really go to my immediate neighbours to ask them about noise as they arent very approachable.

Is my neighbour correct? The thing is, the sound of the motorway with the window open is a very low hum but when the window is closed, its much louder.

LegacyUser

I think if you live in a semi D you need to go and see if that sound is coming from the neighbours . It could be the next door neighbours fridge at night for instance . Sound can come through any thing .

antiskeptic

*** Don't go changing a (remotely costly) thing until such time as you have postively identified the source of the problem. If you think you're frustrated now then figure how you'll feel if you've changed your windows - only to stay awake on the first night after installation listening to a buzzing sound ***

Unregistered wrote: »

OP again - a neighbour came in and went all around the house listening. He got me to put my ear up against my windows - I could definitely hear a strong sound. A new motor way opened up only two weeks ago, a mile from my house and my neighbour thinks that my windows are vibrating from the noise of the motorway and bouncing them back into the walls. He could describe the sound Ive been hearing but only when he put his ear to the windows.

Could he be right?

Given what you've said in your OP...

There has been a constant humming sound in my house for the last year, could live with it until the last week, as it is now 24 hours a day.

...I doubt it. There is a noise to be expected from a motorway opening up but it's unlikely to be producing much in the middle of the night when there are virtually no cars driving on it. Noise is a form of energy and motorway noise is a form of energy created by tyres rolling on road and air moving over the vehicle. No vehicles = no noise.

I live a mile or so from a motorway and I can't hear a thing when holding a glass against my window now (at 10.30 pm). Granted I've not got grade 1A++ hearing but still... not a darn thing.

Part of the problem (with respect, but deduced from your posting) is the non-technical/systematic nature of your attempts to identify the source of the sound. In plain English: you're trying to pin a tail on a donkey. Me? I'm an experienced mechanical engineer whose day-job involves multi-facetted technical problem resolution. In plain English: I've an appreciation for what "humming" is, where it might arise and how, when the cause is identified, it may be cost-effectively resolved. If you like, I can drop by and add some systematic sleuthing to proceedings. My interest here is a puzzle that needs resolving - not earning a living from you.

If you're happy pay me a nominal fee. If I can't figure it out pay me nothing - I'll insist on it. PM me if you like.

punchdrunk

i'd a nokia charger that used to do this,torture! so bad i'd unplug it every night as it would keep me up!

LegacyUser

FAO Antiskeptic - I cant find the PM function to PM you (may not be allowed to as Im a guest). I would like to take you up on your offer, I cant stand the noise anymore and also i had a window guy in quoting me thousands for windows. However, even he asked me to locate the sound before getting him out for definite as he understood that that was more important than new windows.

Antiskeptic, could you email me at: noiseproblem50&yahoo.ie (the & stands for symbol 'at', it doesnt work on my lap top). I would be very grateful and I agree with you, I would be sick spending so much on windows and to find the noise is still there.