Q&A about building chimney noise causes & cures.

These articles discuss the causes of noises or sounds traced to building chimneys, flues & vents, ranging from thermal expansion clicks and cracks to wind howling to a dangerous chimney fire that sounds like a roaring freight train.

Chimney noise FAQs

These questions & answers about chimney noises in or on buildings were posted originally at CHIMNEY NOISE DIAGNOSIS - please be sure to review that catalog of types of sounds at or in chimneys.

On 2019-03-31 by (mod) - chimney making sucking sound?

I don't know but it's probably worth having the chimney and flue inspected.

Take a look at the noise descriptions in the article above - was the noise heard following a windy day? Has a chimney cap come loose or fallen off?

Could there be an animal in the flue?

What are the chimney materials? Masonry, metal, boxed-in metal flue?

On 2019-03-30 by Gisela

we have never used the wood burning chimney's in the house, since we moved in over 5 years ago.

Today for the 1st. time we heard some art sucking whooshing noises, like the sound, of blowing air in a hallow tub etc. there was no wind blowing outside
. What could cause noise ? Thanks for some answer

On 2019-01-09 by (mod) - rattling sound in chimney

Annette

When there's a rattling sound I look first for loose mechanical components: ductwork sections, a loose blower door, loose fan components.

But your note that the noise is gone when the fan runs but the furnace itself (its burner) is off suggests the noise may be related to the presence of heat. That could be simply something that's looser when warm than when cooler.

Start by asking for help from your heating service tech to rule out unsafe or improper operations at the burner itself (you don't mention if it's oil or gas or electric), and rule out a chimney hazard.

Then move on to ductwork.

On 2019-01-09 by Annette

Our thirty year old house's gas furnace chimney has started making rattling sounds while the furnace is running.

The rattling builds as the furnace fan starts and builds up the entire time the furnace is running. As soon as the furnace quits, but while the fan is still running, the noise stops. The noise is much louder on the second floor than in the basement on main level. Any suggestions as to the cause or possible fix?

On 2018-02-11 by (mod) - buzzing in the chimney

Barbara and BG

Buzzing noises in or at chimneys are not a sound for which I can offer a single certain explanation. There are multiple possible causes, each meriting investigation, as some involve safety concern:

- unsafe, or improperly-operating heating equipment connected to the chimney

- improperly-run pipes, wires, or something else routed through a chimney flue (unsafe in an active chimney)

- wind-driven movement of chimmey components or air movement through chimney openings

- bees

On 2018-02-11 by Barbara

@Ady,
Did you ever find out what causes this noise? We are having a similar noise problem.

On 2017-12-20 by Begending1 - vibratory/buzzing sound emanating from the brick in my fireplace

Is there an explanation for the vibratory/buzzing sound emanating from the brick in my fireplace when I shine a particular LED(bike lamp) on it?

It occurs primarily at the back, slanted area of the chimney.

The octave seems to change with different modes on this CYGOLITE DASH 460 model lamp.

Please help me understand this phenomena, and in addition provide enough ancillary knowledge to assure my sanity, given this "crazy" occurrence. Thank you!

On 2017-10-12 by (mod) - loud boom in chimney

Kathy,

I agree with your husband that this sounds like an operating problem with heating equipment venting into the chimney or a problem in the chimney itself.

Watch out: The safest approach would be to turn off whatever is venting into the chimney, then call for diagnosis and repair first by a service technician for the equipment and second, depending on what she finds, a chimney inspection by a certified chimney sweep.

A lost chimney cap can be enough to have damaged the flue or cause improper heating equipment venting.

But an improper gas burner that's booming could risk a more dangerous gas explosion.

See GAS BURNER FLAME & NOISE DEFECTS

See CHIMNEY DRAFT & PERFORMANCE

On 2017-10-12 by Kathy

I hear a loud boom noise coming from the chimney off and on my husband says the chimney needs cleaning is this dangerous. I am afraid that the house will blow up or catch fire am l right to be concerned. We have gas heating

On 2017-09-06 by Anthony - rumbling from chimney when windy

We have a dull,rumbling noise when windy,...m coming from the chimney area of a bungalow. Numerous roof and tile checks to the roof have found nothing.Any suggestions please ?

On 2017-04-19 by (mod) - whooshing wind noise at gas fireplace

I'm baffled too, Chris. But

WATCH OUT: if the gas fireplace is "on" - that is, lit, then there may be a gas leak that's getting ignited, risking a fire or explosion. I would immediately turn off the gas, then call for a leak inspection and test.

On 2017-04-18 by Chris

I have a gas fireplace and this morning I heard a wind (Whoosh) noise exactly every 30 seconds, then it stopped after 20 minutes. It is not windy out. I have lived in the house 20 years and never heard this before even on windy days. Any ideas?

On 2017-01-14 by (mod) - causes of grumbling chimney sounds

Ady

Thanks for such an interesting question. I'm doubtful that there's an animal grumbling in the chimney since after a week of being trapped the grumbling would be mourning.

Take a look with care at all of your heating equipment that's running or not when you hear the sound - it's possible that noise from other equipment is being transmitted up through the un-used fireplace flue.

I'd also want a certified chimney sweep to assure that the flues that are in use by other equipment are intact, not leaking, and not shared with the fireplace. Sometimes separation between flues breaks go give an unsafe opening.

On 2017-01-14 by Ady

We have a gas fireplace with the chimney trap door closed. It has not been used in over one year. Within the past one week, we have been hearing a semi loud grumbling, fluttering sound that sounds like starting a small gas engine which lasts 5-10 seconds.

This happens around 9-10am then again in the afternoon atleast twice a day and coming from the fireplace.

We have not noticed the sound in the evening or at night. What could this be?

...

Continue reading at CHIMNEY NOISE DIAGNOSIS or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

Or see these

Recommended Articles

• CHIMNEY FIRE ACTION / PREVENTION
• CHIMNEY INSPECTION DIAGNOSIS REPAIR - home
• CHIMNEY NOISE DIAGNOSIS - topic home
• NOISE / SOUND DIAGNOSIS & CURE - home

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