Hissing Noise Problems in or at Buildings
Diagnose, & Cure Hissing Noise Problems in Building Interiors
- POST a QUESTION or COMMENT about diagnosing the source and finding the cure for noises or sounds in or around buildings and their systems
Building hissing or sizzling noise troubleshooting: what are the common sources of hissing or spitting or sizzling sounds heard at bulidings? Which of these hissing sounds are normal and which ones mean trouble or require repair.
Some hissing or sizzling sounds are actually indications of dangerous conditions while others are not. We list these hissing sound sources here.
These articles discuss building noise control: how to inspect, diagnose & cure noise or sound problems in homes or commercial buildings.
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Common Sources of Hissing Noises in Buildings
Unfortunately lots of different things can produce hissing sounds.
Where to start: It makes sense to try to track the sound to its source, then look more closely.
Here are a examples common sources of of hissing noises heard indoors.
- Hissing sounds at air conditioning compressors,
in some cases may be dangerous, especially if very loud, in other cases might be normal.
Hissing may be due to an internal relief valve, a refrigerant leak, or normal operation of an expansion valve.
Something as simple as a bad fan start capacitor might be at the root of hissing noises at a heat pump or air conditioner compressor. Hissing may also be traced to an air duct leak.
See HISSING SOUNDS, HVAC from A/C or heat pump system
also
see COMPRESSOR CONDENSER NOISES - Hissing noise of air escaping at water tanks:
air escaping from the air volume control valve on some water pressure tanks, such as the U.S. Gauge Type 310WJ Air Volume Controls makes a hissing noise and is normal but should only occur on occasion, not constantly.
Otherwise there is a problem putting too much air into the water tank.
See WATER TANK AIR VOLUME CONTROLS. - Hissing sounds from steam escaping from steam vents on a steam heating system -
See STEAM VENT NOISE. - Hissing noises caused by water velocity
of water running in water pipes. If you hear a hissing noise only when running water in the building,
try first just slightly reducing the incoming water pressure or even more simple: just close the main water shutoff valve slightly to change the water flow rate through thge valve.
See WATER PRESSURE REGULATOR ADJUSTMENT
And for private pump and well water systems also
See WATER PUMP PRESSURE SWITCH NOISES to identify clicking or hissing that sometimes originates at the control - Hissing noises from a water pump
See WATER PUMP NOISE DIAGNOSIS - Hissing sounds from a water heater
Can be caused by the heating of water in the tank.
see WATER HEATER NOISE DIAGNOSIS, CURE - identify and cure noises at water heaters such as rumbling, clanking, burbling, hissing, and clinking noises observed at water heaters. - Hissing sounds from a water leak -
such as a hole in a water supply pipe - you'll find this
PLUMBING NOISES pretty fast
Also see WATER SUPPLY / DRAIN PIPE LEAK TYPES
and see WELL PIPING LEAK DIAGNOSIS. - Hissing sounds in a building from animals or insects:
where there is an INSECT INFESTATION or in some cases, a snake or reptile problem - Hissing sounds from outdoor vehicle traffic
especially in wet weather, road noise can be a hissing sound - check the noise source by direction: is it coming from outdoors? - Hearing and HEALTH RELATED NOISE issues
can make people experience a hissing noise as well, such as tinnitis, other medical conditions, or in some cases psychosocially generated auditory sensation - Sizzling noises at a split system AC or heat pump
(which some may describe as hissing) from a split system air conditioner / heat pump may be heard at the wall mounted unit when the system is in heating mode. [10] - Electrical system hissing sounds:
Watch out: hissing or sizzling noises associated with electrical wiring, breakers, fuses, or equipment often indicate a dangerous overheating or short circuit hazard.
Shut such equipment down immediately and obtain help from a licensed electrician. - White noise generators, used in professional offices and by some others can produce a sound that some listeners describe as "hissing"
...
Continue reading at HUMMING NOISES in BUILDINGS or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.
Or see these
Recommended Articles
- COMPRESSOR CONDENSER NOISES
- HEALTH RELATED NOISE
- HISSING SOUNDS, HVAC
- HVAC NOISE-3 HISS HOWL HUFF HUM - hiss, howl, huff, hum, groan, woo wuu wuff
- INSECT INFESTATION
- PLUMBING NOISES
- STEAM VENT NOISE
- WATER TANK AIR VOLUME CONTROLS
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HISSING SOUNDS in BUILDINGS at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice.
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INDEX to RELATED ARTICLES: ARTICLE INDEX to BUILDING NOISE DIAGNOSIS
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Citations & References
In addition to any citations in the article above, a full list is available on request.
- ACGIH "A Guide For the Control of Audible Sound Hazards" 1st Ed., ACGIH, American Conference of Government Industrial Hygienists, Threshold Limit Value for Physical Agents Committee, (2020) Website: acgih.org
- Acoustical Society of AmericaElaine Moran, ASA Office Manager, Suite 1NO1, 2 Huntington Quadrangle, Melville, NY 11747-4502
516) 576-2360, FAX: (516) 576-2377 email: asa@aip.org.
ASA is an excellent source of noise and sound standards. Quoting from the associations history page:
"From the Society's inception, its members have been involved in the development of acoustical standards concerned with terminology, measurement procedures, and criteria for determining the effects of noise and vibration. In 1932, The American National Standards Institute (ANSI), then called the American Standards Association, appointed the Acoustical Society as sponsor of a committee, designated as Z-24, to standardize acoustical terminology and measurements. The work of this committee expanded to such an extent that it was replaced in 1957 by three committees, S1 on Acoustics, S2 on Mechanical Shock and Vibration, and S3 on Bioacoustics, with a fourth, S12 on Noise, added in 1981. These four committees are each responsible for producing, developing a consensus for, and adopting standards in accordance with procedures approved by ANSI. Although these committees are independent of the Acoustical Society, the Society provide s the financial support and an administrative Secretariat to facilitate their work. After a standard is adopted by one of these committees and approved by ANSI, the Secretariat arranges for its publication by ASA through the American Institute of Physics. The ASA also distributes ISO and IEC standards. Abstracts of standards and ordering information can be found online on the ASA Standards Page. More than 100 acoustical standards have been published in this way; a catalog is also available from the Standards Secretariat (631-390-0215; Fax: 631-390-0217). The Society also provides administrative support for several international standards committees and acts as the administrative Secretariat (on behalf of ANSI) for the International Technical Committee on Vibration and Shock (TC-108)." - http://asa.aip.org/history.html - ANSI/ASA S12.60, Acoustical Performance Criteria, Design Requirements, and Guidelines for Schools, 2002.
- [1] Connelly, Maureen, Hodgson, Murray, "Thermal and Acoustical Performance of Green Roofs", Sound Transmission Loss of Green roofs, [presentation, Session 1.5], Greening Rooftops for Sustainable Communities, conference, awards, trade show, Baltimore MD, 30 April-2 may 2008. Web search 4/3/2011 original source: http://commons.bcit.ca/greenroof/publications/
2008_grhc_connelly_hodgson.pdf. These authors provide an excellent bibliography of references for sound transmission in buildings, including some of the references cited just below:- Sharp, BH 1973, Study of Techniques to Increase the Sound Insulation of Building Elements. U.S. Department of Commerce PB-222 829, Washington.
- Sharp, BH & Martin S 1996, "The Measurement of Aircraft Noise Reduction in Residences", Proceedings of Inter-Noise, Liverpool, 1996, pp. 2747-2752.
- Friberg, R 1973, "Transmission Loss and Absorption Factors for Corrugated Steel Roofs, Insulation on the Outside", Proceedings of Inter-Noise, Copenhagen, 1973, pp. 213-217.
- [2] Colbond, EnkaTech Note, "Acoustical Benefits of Roof Underlayments", Colbond Inc., PO Box 1057, Enka NC 28728, Tel: 800-365-7391, website: www.colbond-usa.com web search 4/3/2011, original source: http://products.construction.com/
swts_content_files/1329/E835617.pdf - [3] General Steel Corporation, "The Facts About the Acoustical Performance of Metal Building Insulation 2", Sound Transmission Class, General Steel Corporation, 10639 W. Bradford Road, Littleton, CO 80127, web search 4/3/11, original source: http://www.gensteel.com/insulation_facts-5a.htm
- [4] North American Insulation Manufacturers Association NAIMA, "Insulation Facts #58: The Facts About the Acoustical Performance of Metal Building Insulation", NAIMA, 44 Canal Plaza, Suite 310, Alexandria VA 22314, tel: 703-684-0084, website: http://www.naima.org/
- [5] Sarah Hager Johnston, Peregrine Information Consultants, Tel: 860-676-2228, Website: www.peregrineinfo.com Email: info@peregrineinfo.com
Research and writing for insurance, risk management, safety & health, business, and medical professionals. Quoting: Peregrine Information Consultants provides customized secondary research, technical information, and standards, news, current awareness services, writing, and editing to support U.S. clients in property/casualty insurance, risk management and loss control, occupational safety and health, consumer safety, business, retail, manufacturing, and other industries. - Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction, by Steven Bliss. John Wiley & Sons, 2006. ISBN-10: 0471648361, ISBN-13: 978-0471648369, Hardcover: 320 pages, available from Amazon.com and also Wiley.com. See our book review of this publication.
- DEVELOPMENTS in NOISE CONTROL [PDF] NRCC, National Research Council, Canada, suggestions for noise control, sound transmission through block walls, plumbing noise control, noise leaks, and sound control advice. Web search 01/17/2011, original source: www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/eng/ibp/irc/bsi/90-noise-control.html
- Thanks to audiologist Cheryl P. Harllee, licensed hearing specialist, for discussing noises and noise problems in preparation for this article. Ms. Harllee can be located at the Village Hearing Center, 249 U.S. Highway One, Tequesta FL 33469 561-744-0231
- [10] Fujitsu Room Air Conditioner, Wall Mounted Type, Heat & Cool Model (Reverse Cycle) [Heat pump units] Operating Manual, Models: ASU18RLXS ASU24RLXS ASU30RLX (indoor & outdoor units). Fujitsu General America, Inc., 353 Route 46 West, Fairfield, NJ 07004, Tel: (888) 888-3424, Tel-Service hotline: (866) 952-8324, Email: hvac@fujitsugeneral.com, Email service: servicehvac@fujitsugeneral.com , retrieved 8/30/12, original source: http://www.fujitsugeneral.com/PDF_06/OperationManual/%28OM%29ASU18-24RLX-30RLX.pdf [copy on file as FujitsuASU18-24RLX-30RLX.pdf]
- [11] Bauer, B., “Microphone Directivity”, Transactions of the IRE-PGA, July 1952, 10-20
- [12] Killion, M., et. al., “Real-World
Performance of an ITE Directional
Microphone”, The Hearing Journal, April
1998 - [13] Blauert, J.: Spatial hearing: the psychophysics of human sound localization; MIT Press; Cambridge, Massachusetts (1983)
- [14] "Localization of sound in rooms, the effect of visual fixation," [PDF] W.M.Hartmann, {Proceedings 11th ICA}, (Journal d'Acoustique) {3}, 139-142 (1983).
- [15] "Localization of a source of sound in a room," W.M. Hartmann, Proc. Audio Engr. Soc. Eighth International Conference, ed. S. Pizzi, pp 27-32, AES, New York (1990).
- [16] "Auditory Localization in rooms," W.M. Hartmann, Proc. Audio Engr. Soc. Twelfth International Conference, ed. S. Bech pp 34-39, AES, New York (1993). "Listening in a Room and the Precedence Effect," W.M. Hartmann, in
- [17] Binaural and Spatial Hearing} ed. R.H. Gilkey and T.B. Anderson, pp 191-210, L. Erlbaum Associates (1997).
- [18] "Localization of noise in a reverberant environment," [PDF] B. Rakerd and W.M. Hartmann, Proceedings of the 13th International Symposium on Hearing, Dourdon, France, 2003.
- [18] Medhi Batel et als., "Noise Source Location Techniques - Simple to Advanced Applications", Sound and Vibration, March 2003, retrieved 4/23/2013 original source www.sandv.com/downloads/0303bate.pdf [copy on file as Noise_Source_Location_Techs0303bate.pdf]
- Thanks to reader Sue Hazeldine, from the U.K. for discussing how she tracked down a whistling chimney noise to an antique hanging sign on the building exterior - 01/19/2010.
- Thanks to reader Michael Anderson, 8 May 2009, for discussing clicking sounds coming from air conditioning equipment.
- Thanks to reader Erna Ross who described loss of sleep due to a hissing noise at her home 06/15/2008.
- Marpac, produces white sound generators, a product that they identify as the Marpac sound conditioner. Marpac can be contacted at http://www.marpac.com/ or contact the Marpac Corporation, P.O. Box 560 Rocky Point, NC 28457 Phone: 800-999-6962 (USA and Canada) Fax: 910-602-1435 1-910-602-1421 (worldwide), 800-999- or email: info@marpac.com
- Sound Oasis sound conditioners are produced by Sound Oasis: http://www.sound-oasis.com/ email: info@sound-oasis.com or 1-866-625-3218
- Barrier Ultra-R super high-R building panels, produced by Glacier Bay, use Aerogel and are rated up to R-30 per inch, or in Barrier Ultra-r™ panels, R-50 per inch. The company also produces acoustic panels that are Ultra-db resistant and lightweight. Unlike the appliance insulation panels discussed in the original Q&A above on miracle insulation, these Areogel based panels will continue to retain some, though reduced insulating value if punctured, performing at perhaps R-9 per inch. The product is used in marine refrigerators, but in the future may be available as a residential construction product. The company is researching specialized products in medical, transportation, and aerospace applications. Contact: Glacier Bay, Inc., 2930 Faber Street, Union City, CA 94587 U.S.A., (510) 437-9100, Sales and Technical Information - sales@glacierbay.com
- US EPA Noise Regulations & References
- Noise Control act - http://www.nonoise.org/epa/act.htm
- Quiet Communities Act - 1978
- Federal Regulations from the EPA's Office of Noise Abatement & Control - http://www.nonoise.org/epa/reg.htm
- A Basis for Limiting Noise Exposure for Hearing Conservation - http://www.nonoise.org/epa/Roll1/roll1doc1.pdf
- Noise - a Health Problem - http://www.nonoise.org/library/epahlth/epahlth.htm - quoted below
Racket, din, clamor, noise. Whatever you want to call it, unwanted sound is America's most widespread nuisance. But noise is more than just a nuisance. It constitutes a real and present danger to people's health. Day and night, at home, at work, and at play, noise can produce serious physical and psychological stress. No one is immune to this stress. Though we seem to adjust to noise by ignoring it, the ear, in fact, never closes and the body still responds - sometimes with extreme tension, as to a strange sound in the night.
The annoyance we feel when faced with noise is the most common outward symptom of the stress building up inside us. Indeed, because irritability is so apparent, legislators have made public annoyance the basis of many noise abatement programs. The more subtle and more serious health hazards associated with stress caused by noise traditionally have been given much less attention. Nonetheless, when we are annoyed or made irritable by noise, we should consider these symptoms fair warning that other things may be happening to us, some of which may be damaging to our health.
- Protective Noise Levels - 1979, basis for many local noise ordinances and codes - http://www.nonoise.org/library/levels/levels.htm
This publication is intended to complement the EPA's "Levels Document,"* the 1974 report examining levels of environmental noise necessary to protect public health and welfare. It interprets the contents of the Levels Document in less technical terms for people who wish to better understand the concepts presented there, and how the protective levels were identified. In that sense, this publication may serve as an introduction, or a supplement, to the Levels Document.
- "Measurement of Highway-Related Noise", US Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/noise/measure/chap8.htm
- "Noise and Vibration Control in Buildings", Robert S. Jones, McGraw-Hill Book Co., PO Box 400, Hightstown, NJ 08520-9989 #006431-8 [$47.50]
- Our recommended books about building & mechanical systems design, inspection, problem diagnosis, and repair, and about indoor environment and IAQ testing, diagnosis, and cleanup are at the InspectAPedia Bookstore. Also see our Book Reviews - InspectAPedia.
- In addition to citations & references found in this article, see the research citations given at the end of the related articles found at our suggested
CONTINUE READING or RECOMMENDED ARTICLES.
- Carson, Dunlop & Associates Ltd., 120 Carlton Street Suite 407, Toronto ON M5A 4K2. Tel: (416) 964-9415 1-800-268-7070 Email: info@carsondunlop.com. Alan Carson is a past president of ASHI, the American Society of Home Inspectors.
Thanks to Alan Carson and Bob Dunlop, for permission for InspectAPedia to use text excerpts from The HOME REFERENCE BOOK - the Encyclopedia of Homes and to use illustrations from The ILLUSTRATED HOME .
Carson Dunlop Associates provides extensive home inspection education and report writing material. In gratitude we provide links to tsome Carson Dunlop Associates products and services.
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