FREE Encyclopedia of Building & Environmental Construction, Diagnosis, Maintenance & Repair No ChatBot Pledge: The accuracy & trustworthiness of every InspectApedia article or Q&A is researched by human experts.
Building Humming Noise Sources Buzzing Vibrating noise sources at buildings
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 humming noise troubleshooting: causes & cures.
Diagnose, & Cure Humming Noise Complaints. What are the common sources of a humming sound heard in or near buildings?
Which humming noises indicate that repairs are needed? Cures for building humming sounds.
InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest. We have no relationship with advertisers, products, or services discussed at this website.
Humming Sounds in & Near buildings
Humming noises, also described more often as buzzing, occur at failing relays such as the relay in a heating system or air conditioning system or controls for circulator pumps.
Just about anywhere that an electric motor, electric relay, or low voltage transformer is used inside a building or its equipment there may be a humming sound.
Humming noises outside of buildings are often traced to a power transformer located on or near the property and of course don't rule out nearby equipment on adjoining properties. Even power lines can produce a humming sounds.
Humming sounds around air conditioner compressor motors, fan motors, well pumps or other motors may be normal if the motor is running, but may also indicate a motor that is unable to start.
Don't' rule out medical causes of perceived humming sounds in and around building.
Is it Humming or Buzzing: because some people describe buzzing noises as humming sounds, or vice versa,
CIRCULATOR PUMPS & RELAYS - Circulator pumps on heating systems
and at
CIRCULATOR PUMP WON'T START where we discuss jammed circulator pumps can be sources of humming in buildings where hot water heating is used or where a circulator pump is used for an indirect water heater.
In our HVAC noise articles we describe a wide range of sounds: squeaks, hums, clanks, squeals, bubbling, hissing, etc. Humming or chattering noises (rapid clicking) at the air conditioning compressor/condenser unit may mean that a contactor or relay is failing - the unit makes noises but won't actually start.
Contactors and relays found on heat pumps and air conditioners and in some furnaces or even hot water boilers may emit a humming noise if the relay is worn, dirty,or damaged.
ELECTRIC MOTOR NOISE DIAGNOSIS Humming sounds heard in a building might be traced to any electric motor both in normal operation or particularly at motors that are having trouble starting.
Electrical field-caused noises: some metal objects or equipment including above-ground or buried metal piping may respond to 60-cycle electrical field-induced vibration where piping passes below electrical power lines.
Field example: in the 1970's we found that stopping our dirt-bike motorcycle below the Fishkill N.Y. power distribution line and turning the metal handlebars at right angle to the direction of the overhead power lines could on occasion cause an easily-felt vibration to be induced in the motorcycle handlebars. Loose equipment or connectors on the handlebars might even buzz in that position.
Fans & blower fans in furnaces or air conditioners produce motor noises in normal operation but can produce a hum if the motor is jammed or failed. See our Electric Motor Noise article listed above. Also see
Gas regulator humming or hissing noises range from probably harmless (some humming sounds at a gas regulator) to very dangerous (hissing of a gas leak).
See GAS REGULATOR NOISES for details about the sorts of noises found at gas appliance regulators.
Ground Humming noises coming from the ground: loud booms, moaning, humming, and other sounds coming from the ground may be due to tectonic plate movement.
Transformer Humming noises: electrical power transformers from a wide range of uses may emit humming, buzzing or "vibrating" sounds. Examples include pole-mounted or on-ground or even under-ground power transformers or in buildings, smaller transformers used in the operation of HVAC equipment.
See LOW VOLTAGE TRANSFORMER TEST - Humming and also buzzing noises are also found at low voltage transformers. A low voltage transformer may continue to put out the required 24-Volts but may keep up a humming noise for months or years. I prefer to replace such devices.
Before you blame the electric motor: if you turn off power to an electric motor that you think is the hummer, such as an air conditioner compressor/condenser unit or at a heating furnace, and if you are still hearing humming, find and check the low-voltage transformer. Often an aging transformer will put out an annoying humming sound.
Water pump humming noises, involving an electric motor, are generally rather noisy - a motor noise may shift, however to a more quit hum if the motor is jammed or if the motor is having trouble starting.
A
Or use the SEARCH BOX found below to Ask a Question or Search InspectApedia
Ask a Question or Search InspectApedia
Try the search box just below, or if you prefer, post a question or comment in the Comments box below and we will respond promptly.
Search the InspectApedia website
Note: appearance of your Comment below may be delayed:if your comment contains an image, photograph, web link, or text that looks to the software as if it might be a web link, your posting will appear after it has been approved by a moderator. Apologies for the delay.
Only one image can be added per comment but you can post as many comments, and therefore images, as you like.
You will not receive a notification when a response to your question has been posted. Please bookmark this page to make it easy for you to check back for our response.
Our Comment Box is provided by Countable Web Productions countable.ca
In addition to any citations in the article above, a full list is available on request.
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
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.
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.