Plumbing Noise Diagnosis & Cure
- POST a QUESTION or COMMENT about diagnosing and fixing plumbing noises from all sources
Plumbing system noises at supply pipes, drain pipes, vents, faucets, fixtures:
This plumbing noise article series explains all of the types, causes, and cures for noises traced to a building plumbing system, supply piping, drain piping, traps, fixtures, equipment.
Page top photo: one of the best and most conscientious builders we've known, Eric Galow, shown at work installing framing, insulation, and plumbing (overhead in that chaseway) in a Poughkeepsie New York home.
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Plumbing System Noises in buildings, Causes & Cures
This article explains how we find & identify the sources of all types of plumbing noises in buildings. We can then trace these noises to their source in order to fix or stop them.
Because the action we might take is different - repair a problem versus control or isolate sound, we divide plumbing noises into two groups:
- Plumbing defect noises
associated with plumbing system problems or defects whose identification and diagnosis is discussed first in the checklist given just below in this article and further at references at the article end.
Plumbing defect noises may stem from problems in building fixtures (leaks, drips, running toilets), building piping (clogged gurgling drains or whistling hammering water supply pipes), or from building mechanical systems (clicking control relays or screaming well pumps).
We will give links to more-detailed diagnosis and repair articles for each of these noise sources and types. - Normal (but annoying) plumbing system noises
that will be corrected by noise transmission control or sound insulation are discussed
at SOUND CONTROL for PLUMBING
Catalog of Sources of Plumbing System Noises in buildings
This list of sources of annoying or diagnostic sounds traced to plumbing systems & equipment is in alphabetical order by keyword. Also use your browser's FIND function (Ctrl-F or CMD-F) to search for your own noise keywords in this article.
- Air bound plumbing components or equipment
such as sewer or effluent pump systems, sump pumps running dry, or air bound hot water heating system baseboards /radiators can leave a pump motor running and humming but not pumping. Check for a dry sump pit with motor control not turning off the pump, an air bound sump pump, or an air bound heating system.
For air bound heating systems
see AIR-BOUND HEATING SYSTEMS
or
For a humming sewage or sump pump,
see SEPTIC / SEWAGE PUMP DISCHARGE VENT - Air conditioning & heat pump systems
include some plumbing components that can be related to building noise.
See HVAC SYSTEM NOISE DIAGNOSIS - Banging pipes, creaks, rattles, and vibrations
see WATER HAMMER NOISE DIAGNOSE & CURE. Water hammer tends to occur when water is shut off but banging or rattling pipes may also occur as water is run at particular volumes or pressures through the system.
Or
see BANGING HEATING PIPES RADIATORS - Banging water heater,
see WATER HEATER NOISE DIAGNOSIS, CURE - Check valve noises, particularly a loud bang or clang at sump pumps, effluent pumps, and sewage ejector pumps occur when flow reverses in the discharge pump at the end of a pump-on cycle.
See SEWAGE PUMPS for details.
Also
see CHECK VALVES, WATER SUPPLY, DRAINS, PUMPS - Clanging, ringing sounds
in buildings are often traced to loose water supply piping, water hammer in supply piping
See WATER HAMMER NOISE DIAGNOSE & CURE
See WATER PUMP SHORT CYCLING - rapid on-off cycling of a water pump can cause water hammer clanging noises.
Steam pipe or hot water heating radiator banging and clanging
See BANGING HEATING PIPES RADIATORS
Also see HEATING SYSTEM NOISES - Drain piping noises
from clogged or partly clogged drains -
See PLUMBING DRAIN NOISE DIAGNOSIS - home
Also see
See CLOGGED DRAIN DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR - Drips at plumbing fixtures
including faucets, sinks, toilets, tubs, showers, washers, etc. may make an obvious drip or splash sound.
But dripping water can be tricky to track down. Don't forget to consider
- A small water supply piping leak
inside of a building cavity can produce a noise that is hard to track down.
Supply pipe leaks may be continuous (and thus are eventually discovered by water stains or mold) or intermittent, such as a leak around a tub or shower control that drips into the wall cavity only when the valve is turned "on".
See SOUNDS of RUNNING / DRIPPING WATER in DRAINS - A drain piping leak
inside of a building cavity can also produce a noise that is hard to track down. But a drain drip noise should not be present when no fixtures have water running into them.
But don't forget that a quietly running toilet can also produce a drip or other plumbing problems downstream from the toilet in the building drain piping.
- A small water supply piping leak
- Plumbing Fixture noises
at drains, gurgling, glug glug sounds, burbling, bubbling during drainage when sinks, tubs, or showers drain, or when a toilet is flushed -
See NOISE, PLUMBING DRAIN REPAIR - fixing plumbing noises at drains by fixing drain or vent problems and
see PLUMBING VENT DEFECTS & NOISES
and CLOGGED DRAIN DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR. - Heating system noises
may include sounds part of or transmitted through building piping, motors, controls.
See BANGING HEATING PIPES RADIATORS
See BANGING HEATING ZONE VALVES
See BUZZING NOISE, HEATER - Plumbing Vent System noises
See AIR ADMITTANCE VALVE AAV NOISE DIAGNOSIS
and PLUMBING VENT NOISE - Plumbing water supply piping noise
Noise of dripping water heard in or near drain systems or actually anywhere in the building, as a supply leak or fixture leak or drain leak can all cause drips into building wall, ceiling or floor cavities as well as drips into the drain piping
See DRIPPING WATER SOUND SOURCES - cause & cure
Noise of running water heard in supply pipes or drains: See RUNNING WATER NOISE SOURCES - cause & cure
- Other Plumbing Water-Related Building Noises
- Water hammer noise:
banging or clanking sounds when water faucets are shut off -
See WATER HAMMER NOISE DIAGNOSE & CURE - Water pipe transmission of vibrations
in well pumps or other pumps used in the plumbing system -
See NOISE, PLUMBING CHECKLIST for details. - Whistling shrieking water pipe noises -
See WATER SUPPLY PIPE WHISTLE NOISE - Refrigerant piping noises:
See REFRIGERANT PIPING NOISE - running water or gurgling sounds, sounds in refrigerant piping - floodback or condensate? - Spa & hot tub noises:
See SPA & JETTED TUB NOISE ISSUES
and
See SPA / HOT TUB BLOWER UNIT
and
See SPA / HOT TUB PUMP REPAIR - Toilet noises:
- If a toilet is running there may be rippling water sounds, drip sounds (into the main drain waste vent line), and occasional cycling of a water pump if the building is connected to a private well system. Fix the running toilet.
See TOILET RUNS CONTINUOUSLY
And WATER SUPPLY PIPE WHISTLE NOISE - Toilet flush noises in drain piping:
such as burbling or gurgling noises at the toilet or at nearby drains are corrected by fixing slow or blocked drains or by finding and fixing missing or clogged plumbing vents.
Transmitted toilet drain noises may also be avoided by routing drain lines out of bedrooms or other quiet areas or by sound isolation of the pipe chase. - Airborne toilet noises
such as toilet flushing need to be controlled by building sound isolation methods discussed beginning
at SOUND CONTROL in buildings.
- If a toilet is running there may be rippling water sounds, drip sounds (into the main drain waste vent line), and occasional cycling of a water pump if the building is connected to a private well system. Fix the running toilet.
- Washing machine noises -
There is a remarkably large catalog of clothes washer noises, from buzzing to zipper sounds.
See details at WASHING MACHINE NOISE CAUSE & CURE
- Water heater noises -
Popping noises at water heater or boiler may be due to scale accumulation.
See WATER HEATER NOISE DIAGNOSIS, CURE
Rumbling or other noise at water heater,
see WATER HEATER NOISE DIAGNOSIS, CURE - Water pump noises: hiss, hum, motor sounds, clunks, or thunks:
at water pumps or well pumps. Water pumps can be quite noisy, depending on the pump type and model, and the pump location.
See WATER PUMP NOISE DIAGNOSIS - topic home.
If the well pump is a submersible unit located inside the well, normally the only noise you'll observe in the building is the clicking of the pump control relay(s) that turn the pump on or off, and possibly a modest sound of water entering the water pressure tank or building piping.- Water pump noises
change from loud and rattling to a more quiet hum if a pump has lost prime (contains air instead of water) and then regains its prime (contains water). Running a pump "dry" can also destroy it.
See WATER PUMP LIFE EXPECTANCY.
But if your well pump is located indoors the pump motor sound can be loud and disturbing
We do not recommend simply surrounding the pump or covering it with fiberglass insulation in contact with the pump or water tank, because condensation can lead to a mold problem.
But enclosing a well pump in a utility room that has benefited from sound control insulation can make a big reduction in pump noise heard in the rest of the structure.
See SOUND CONTROL in BUILDINGS and
also see NOISE, PLUMBING CHECKLIST for details about well pump sound transmission through air or through water piping. - See INTERMITTENT CYCLING WATER PUMPS for an explanation of water pumps that turn on unexpectedly.
- See SHORT CYCLING WATER PUMP
or WATER PUMP SHORT CYCLING DIAGNOSIS TABLE if the well pump is turning on and off too frequently - See WATER PUMP WONT STOP RUNNING if the well pump simply won't stop running at all
- 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 probably problem of having put too much air into the water tank.
See WATER TANK AIR VOLUME CONTROLS. - A "thunk" or "clunk"
sound heard around the water pressure tank or water pressure tank controls can be caused by check valve, control, or piping troubles.
Start with WATER HAMMER NOISE DIAGNOSE & CURE
and if that's not the problem, then
see WATER PUMP NOISE DIAGNOSIS for details. - Jetted tubs, whirlpool baths, spas: motor & pump noise transmission
See JETTED TUB & SPA NOISE ISSUES
- Water pump noises
- Water pump pressure control clicking or humming
may be normal or may spell trouble.
See WATER PUMP PRESSURE SWITCH NOISES and
also see CHATTERING RELAYS, PUMP SWITCH in that article - Water pressure tank and water storage tank noises:
- Bubbling and gurgling
at the water pressure tank is usually air in the well piping system; look for a leak in the well piping system or low water levels in the well.
See AIR DISCHARGE at FAUCETS, FIXTURES - Clicking at the water pressure tank,
especially if the well pump is submersible (in the well and nowhere near the tank itself) is more likely the water pump pressure control relay clicking in and out to turn the pump on and off.
If the clicking is rapid, every few seconds, your well pump is short-cycling and needs repair.
See SHORT CYCLING WATER PUMP - Squeals and shrieks from water pressure tank:
A squealing water pressure tank sound is often due to water passing through a restricted valve or pipe clog. A high pitched shriek or whine also occurs during fill-ups of water tanks whose water level is controlled by a float.
In that case the noise seems to come from a combination of stick float mechanism that may not fully open the fill valve and thus a partial restriction in the water line.
Shrieking from a water pressure tank that incorporates a bladder may be due to a partly collapsed bladder or obstruction at the tank entrance fittings.
Also see WATER TANK NOISE DIAGNOSIS
- Bubbling and gurgling
- Running toilets may whistle, shriek, or make other noises-
including a high pitched sound, or may be silent but sill running.
See PLUMBING SUPPLY PIPE NOISE - water pipe whistling or shrieking - SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS
may include pumps that produce noise in the building or bubbling rushing water sounds if there is air in the piping system - see Pump Noises above. - Plumbing drain piping or plumbing fixture noise
diagnosis and cure -
see NOISE, PLUMBING DRAIN REPAIR - fixing plumbing noises at drains by fixing drain or vent problems
and
see PLUMBING VENT DEFECTS & NOISES
and
see CLOGGED DRAIN DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR.
Also see NOISE CONTROL for PLUMBING where we describe reducing the annoying sounds of normal plumbing system piping and fixtures. - Plumbing Supply piping noises,
including a high-pitched hissing or whistling sound may be heard as water runs through building supply piping.
This sound should stop immediately when you turn off any fixture that is running water in the building. You may be able to stop or reduce plumbing supply piping noise by changing the water system pressure at a municipal water supply valve.
Try first just slightly reducing the incoming water pressure.
See WATER PRESSURE REGULATOR ADJUSTMENT. We have also corrected this noise by slightly closing the main water shut off valve at a municipal supply to adjust the incoming water flow rate.
If your water pipes are making a banging or clanging sound at the moment when water is turned off,
see WATER HAMMER NOISE DIAGNOSE & CURE - Plumbing vent piping-caused plumbing system noises and odors -
At PLUMBING VENT DEFECTS & NOISES we explain the basics of proper plumbing vent piping and how errors cause trap siphonage, odors, and noises. See:- PLUMBING DRAIN NOISE DIAGNOSIS
- PLUMBING DRAIN NOISE REPAIR
- PLUMBING VENT CODES, DEFINITIONS, TYPES
- PLUMBING VENT DEFECTS & NOISES
- PLUMBING VENT NOISES - gurgling sounds, also odors
- Also see CLOGGED DRAIN DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR.
- Water heater noises:
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.
Also there may be noises at the water heater due to oil or gas burner problems.
See OIL BURNER NOISE SMOKE ODORS. - Water pressure control switch noises:
see WATER PUMP PRESSURE SWITCH NOISES to identify clicking or hissing - Water tank noises:
Bubbling sounds if air is being forced into the water tank from an air leak in well piping, low well water level, or from an air volume control. Hissing noise of air escaping at water tanks:
See WATER TANK NOISE DIAGNOSIS
and
See WATER TANK AIR VOLUME CONTROLS. - Other advice about controlling normal plumbing noises
in buildings by controlling sound transmission is
at SOUND CONTROL for PLUMBING.
...
Continue reading at PLUMBING DRAIN NOISE DIAGNOSIS or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.
Or see PLUMBING SYSTEM NOISE DIAGNOSIS & CURE FAQs - questions and answers posted originally on this page
Or see these
Recommended Articles
- NOISE CONTROL for PLUMBING - insulation and sound proofing of building plumbing
- PLUMBING NOISE CHECKLIST
- PLUMBING SYSTEM NOISE DIAGNOSIS & CURE - home
- BANGING HEATING PIPES RADIATORS
- CLOGGED DRAIN DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR
- DRIPPING WATER SOUND SOURCES
- FAUCETS & CONTROLS, KITCHEN & BATH
- FAUCETS, OUTDOOR HOSE BIBBS
- FLUSHOMETER VALVES for TOILETS URINALS
- ISLAND SINK PLUMBING VENTS
- SPA & JETTED TUB NOISE ISSUES
- PLUMBING DRAIN NOISE DIAGNOSIS
- PLUMBING DRAIN NOISE REPAIR
- PLUMBING NOISE TRANSMISSION CONTROL
- PLUMBING SUPPLY PIPE NOISE - water pipe whistling or shrieking
- PLUMBING VENT CODES, DEFINITIONS, TYPES
- PLUMBING VENT DEFECTS & NOISES
- PLUMBING VENT NOISE
- RUNNING WATER NOISE
- SOUND CONTROL for PLUMBING
- WASHING MACHINE NOISE CAUSE & CURE
- WATER HAMMER NOISE DIAGNOSE & CURE
- WATER HEATER NOISE DIAGNOSIS, CURE
- WATER PUMP NOISE DIAGNOSIS
- WATER SUPPLY PIPE WHISTLE NOISE
- WATER TANK NOISE DIAGNOSIS
- PLUMBING VENT DEFECTS & NOISES
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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.
- 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
- Oakville Stamping & Bending, 2200 Speers Rd., Oakville, Ontario Canada L6L 2X8 (905) 827-0320 or
(905) 827-6375 FAX - Email: osb@osb.ca produces and supplies the V-200 automatic plumbing vent.
We believe ProVent and the V-200 are spring-loaded siphon breaker valves and are not approved in some code jurisdictions. The Sealing Disc of the V-200 automatic plumbing vent anti siphon valve must be located at least 6" above the top of the trap arm. NOTE: An Angle Mounting of no more than 15 degrees from the Vertical is acceptable. Location of the V-200 is no way related to the flood level of the fixture that it's venting. The V-200 functions equally well above or below the flood level of any fixture in the home. - V-200 ABS Auto Trap Vent product description, V-200 anti siphon valve installation instructions from manufacturer Oakville Stamping & Bending. - STUDOR is a good example of an approved air admittance valve. These devices do not include a spring, only a diaphragm. This makes them more mechanically reliable. OATEY also makes an air admittance valves, possibly also spring-loaded auto vent types.
- 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
- 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
- Tremco, Tremco Global Sealants Division, 10701 Shaker Blvd., Cleveland OH 44104 - see www.tremcosealants.com/
- Ideal Tape, Inc., 1400 Middlesex St., Lowell MA 01853 - see www.abitape.com/tape/iframe_ideal.htm Tel: 1-800-284-3325
- 3-M Corporation, tape products, see solutions.3m.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
- 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
- "Sound Decisions" 9/85 p.11 and "Soundproof Room" in 5/85 p.7 in The New England Builder, Box 97, East Haven, VT 05837 (802) 223-6123.
- "Noise and Vibration Control in Buildings", Robert S. Jones, McGraw-Hill Book Co., PO Box 400, Hightstown, NJ 08520-9989 #006431-8 [$47.50]
- "Shoptalk", Builder Magazine, NAHB, Feb. 1986 p. 138, Martin M. Mintz, AIA, Director of NAHB Technical Services - article about constructing soundproof floors using wood joists and plywood subfloors.
- Guide to Airborne, Impact, and Structure Borne Noise Control in Multifamily Dwellings", Federal Housing Administration publication.
- "Construction Principles, Materials and Methods", Olin, Schmidt, and Lewis.
- "Soundproofing a Music Studio", Gene DeSmidt, Fine Homebuilding, Taunton Press, 63 S. Main St., PO Box 355, Newton, CT 06470 No. 35, October/November 1986.
- "Building a Recording Studio", Jeff Cooper, Synergy Group, Inc., Los Angeles, CA, ISBN 0-916899-00-4.
- "The Book Nook" - how to build a quite room, Rodale's Practical Homeowner, October, 1987, p. 50-61. This issue, p. 98-99, has a good list of manufacturers/distributors of a range of noise control products such as acoustical sealants, ceiling systems, resilient channels, wall panels, window coverings, etc.
- 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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