How to find and fix the sources of tapping noises in buildings.

This article series includes catalogs of types of building noises & sounds, common sources for each of these noises, & methods of sound or noise control in buildings during construction or as a building retrofit.

Page top: Kellog's Rice Krispies® originated the famous "Snap, Crackle, and Pop" noises - but tapping sounds may come from many different sources in buildings - cataloged here..

How to Find the Source of Tapping Noises & Sounds in Buildings

Most-common sources of Tapping sounds in buildings

Below we list articles describing the most-common sources of tapping sounds in buildings.

Photo: tiny noises from pets or other animals, even a mouse, can even include tapping sounds.

[Click to enlarge any image]

Watch out : Always remain alert for a possible tapping noise that was not in the list.

"Inspecting to the checklist" is one of the most common mistakes made by amateur or high-speed inspectors. If you just look for what's on the list you risk missing what's actually important in the building.

Watch out : also, people describe sounds differently. One person's "tapping on the door" may be another's "rapping noise" and someone else's snapping or popping or crackling noise. At the end of this page we provide links to diagnostic articles for these similar terms or sounds.

• HVAC system tapping noise: is there an electrostatic air cleaner in the air handler ? Those make loud snaps and pops - the sound would be heard right at the unit
  
  See DUCT SYSTEM NOISES
• Water heater tapping noise: if noise is coming from the water heater there is probably a scale formation problem - the sound would be heard right at the heater
  
  See
  
  WATER HEATER NOISE DIAGNOSIS, CURE including clicking, crackling, knocking, snapping, popping, rumbling sounds
• Roof tapping noise may be due to thermal movement of metal roof covering, roof trusses, roof framing, roof sheathing
  
  See ROOFING NOISES
  

Checklist of building features to check when tracking down tapping noises in buildings

Because there are many sources tapping sounds in buildings there are quite a few observations that an experienced noise and sound diagnostician, building scientist, or even an experienced home inspector would make such as those given just below.

For help in locating a snapping popping noise source you can buy a sound level monitor dB meter such as this one from Risepro for under $50.

• Air leakage points, rates, and effects of drafts on variation in building component temperature and humidity
• Appliances may make tapping sounds such as gas cooktop igniters or igniters in gas fired furnaces or boilers. .
  
  See GAS COOKTOP or STOVE IGNITER REPAIR
• Building age and construction type, framing type and materials, foundation type and materials may be relevant to sources of tapping noise
• Building materials on roof, siding, walls, framing can be sources of tapping sounds, especially when subjected to heating and cooling - thermal movement, or to wind or other sources of movement
  
  See THERMAL EXPANSION of MATERIALS
• Building movement, look for signs such as cracks, leaks, damage - thorough visual inspection for indications of building movement or presence of common sources of snap or pop sounds
  
  See also
  
  FLOORING NOISES in BUILDINGS
  
  TEMPERATURE CHANGE & ROOF NOISE
• Climate, weather conditions, sun exposure related to snap or pop sound occurrence and location
• Country and city of location of the building and thus climate and weather conditions in general
• Electrical components can make snaps and pops or buzzing including relays, controls, and even electrical connections
  
  Watch out: some of these indicate very unsafe conditions in an electrical panel, electrical boxes, equipment or appliances
  
  See ELECTRICAL SYSTEM NOISES
• Insulation, ventilation, vs temperature variations, air movement, moisture variations across materials, often affected type of heating and cooling and heating and cooling distribution
• Mechanical system details: materials used, ductwork routing, hot water pipe or hot water heating pipe routing, thermal movement at radiators, baseboards, ductwork
  
  See
  
  CHIMNEY NOISE DIAGNOSIS - tapping noise at the chimney
  
  CLICKING SOUNDS from air conditioner or heat pump system
  
  DUCT SYSTEM NOISES tapping sounds from thermal expansion & contraction
  
  GAS BURNER POPPING NOISES
  
  HEATING SYSTEM NOISE DIAGNOSIS
  
  OIL BURNER CLICKING SOUND
  
  TEMPERATURE CHANGE RELATED NOISES
  
  WATER PUMP PRESSURE SWITCH NOISES - clicking pump relay may be described by some people as tapping noise
• Tapping Noise location: make a much more careful effort to pinpoint or at least narrow down the area or source of building snapping popping noises such as which side of the building, which floor, proximity to roof, siding, mechanical systems, heating devices, cooling devices, humidifiers or dehumidifiers, occupant movement, other building activities
  
  Where is the tapping noise loudest? Using people with acute hearing and/or supplementing with noise amplification equipment (some very inexpensive devices are available and can help, such as from Radio Shack), explore the building inside and out to get closest to the sound source. Add use of a mechanic's stethoscope.
  
  See SOUND LEVEL MEASUREMENT, HOW TO
• Tapping Noise timing: make a careful observation of when noises occur in relation to building occupancy, use, time of day, weather, sun exposure, and operation of mechanical systems & devices
  
  What conditions seem to correlate with noise production: Keep a log of factors that can help identify noise source such as
  
  - Time of day
  
  - Weather conditions: temperature swings, rain, wind, wind direction, wind force
  
  For noises that are temperature-realated
  
  see TEMPERATURE CHANGE & ROOF NOISE
  
  For noises that are wind-related see
  
  SHINGLE FLAPPING POPPING SNAPPING CAUSE & CURE
  
  - External conditions: equipment operating in the neighborhood or at neighbors may make a tapping sound
  
  - Internal building conditions: equipment turning on or off (try leaving suspect equipment turned off)
  
  See SOUND EVENT LOG information to be recorded to track down the source of building snapping popping crackling or tapping sounds & noises
  
  
• Siding type, materials, and method of affixing can make tapping sounds - often related to sun exposure and thermal movement
  
  See SIDING NOISES & SOUNDS
• Site conditions, drainage, possible sources of building movement or settlement, sinkholes, subsidence
• Stairs can make tap tap or tapping noises due to movement of treads on framing - usually occur only when people are walking up and down the stairs
  
  See STAIR NOISES
• Temperature variations: various sources of heat and uneven heat or uneven cooling or temperature changes
• Time of day when noises occur and relationship to weather, sun, temperature, occupancy, operation of mechanical or other equipment
• Watch out: never assume that ANY checklist is complete.
  
  

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Reader Q&A - also see RECOMMENDED ARTICLES & FAQs

Question: tapping noise in wall heard when going to sleep

For years its been happening when I lay down to sleep within a few minutes I hear a faint tapping/pop sound coming from the same spot within the wall that repeats every 1,2,5 or 10 minutes for the next 40 or 60 minutes but them completely stops.

What makes this very odd is this repeated sound only occurs 1 or 2 minutes after I lay down to sleep anytime between 11pm to 2am but never occurs any other time including if I lay down in the daytime or night, only when I go to sleep at night it will occur and almost every single night. WHAT COULD BE THE CAUSE? - Domenic R 3/16/12

Reply:

Domenic, cooling house parts can make a noise that sounds like tapping or popping. Often these noises are present before going to sleep, but because we're moving around and making noise ourselves, we don't hear them until we lie quietly in bed.

Question: rain patter sound complaints at 50 year old house - tapping sound

Hello friends,

This is a bit long winded, I appreciate anyone who makes it through the first paragraph. I have a sound in my home that is driving me CRAZY!

Brief Background. I purchased a 50 year old home about 1 year ago. The home is a ranch style, with a basement. It is a typical A-Frame style that is "longer" than it is wider. There is a fireplace in the basement family room and one in the upstairs living room.

After living there about a month or so, I remember waking up to hearing the pitter-patter of rain on my roof and gutters. It had been a rainy couple of days and I embraced the sound of my new home. I woke up, looked out the window, and realized it was nothing but sunny skies. Once my ear "caught" this sound, I realized it was fairly constant, and it stuck.

The sound. This is hard to describe, but I will give a few examples.

The pitter-patter of rain on a roof is a good description, because rain on a roof is constant, but not syncopated i.e. each drop is a little louder or softer but there is a consistent sound. It sounds like a very light tapping on PVC tubing or thin wall conduit. If the audible thresh-hold of sound is 3.0db, these vary around 3.0 to 3.1.

It seems to be non-stop, year long, weather unrelated.

What I've done. I turned off the Main Electrical Circuit Breaker and turned off the gas going to my hot water heater, and I could very clearly hear the noise.

My problem. It seems like it is coming from the attic, but when I go into the attic, it seems like it is coming from the west side, but when I get to the west side, it sounds like it is coming from the east side. I can hear this noise anywhere in the basement, or anywhere on the main floor, but it seems more pronounced on one side of the house, which is the side of the house with the chimneys.

I've stuck my head in the chimneys, but can't make heads or tails of it, I actually can't hear anything in the chimneys. I've stuck my ear up to the attic vents, but hear mostly ambient noise. I've checked the gutters, the chimney caps, and each and every piece of conduit/plumbing running thru-out this house for loose or noisy connections.

There is also an Air Conditioning Unit in the attic. I have adjusted, padded and checked every piece of A.C. tubing related to that. No issues. There is also all the A.C. duct work that runs through the attic. I've inspected all mounting brackets and again, placed my ear directly to the ducts, but cannot hear anything. I've yet to find the source.

It's a shame that I finally moved out of the door-slamming, car-alarming, domestic-dispute ridden apartment complex I had lived in, only to long for simple silence.

Any ideas? They will be most appreciated.
If I ever find a solution, I will surely post it!

 

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

Or see these

Recommended Articles

• NOISE / SOUND DIAGNOSIS & CURE - home
  • NOISE SOURCE LOCATION - LOG FILES
  • ALPHABETICAL LIST OF NOISES by SOURCE or SOUND TYPE
  • AIR CONDITIONING NOISES - condensate drips or thermal expanding in ductwork?
  • ANIMAL NOISES in BUILDINGS - woodpecker tapping on siding?
  • APPLIANCE NOISE DIAGNOSIS - tapping in the washing machine or dryer?
  • BANGING HEATING PIPES RADIATORS - louder than mere tapping
  • CHIMNEY NOISE DIAGNOSIS
  • CLICKING NOISES
  • DRIPPING WATER SOUND SOURCES - described as tapping
  • DUCT SYSTEM NOISES
  • ELECTRICAL SYSTEM NOISES
  • FAN NOISES in BUILDINGS - fan blade hitting an obstruction?
  • FLOORING NOISES in BUILDINGS - pitter patter of a pet? creaking flooring?
  • GHOST NOISES
  • HEATING SYSTEM NOISES
  • HVAC CLICKING SOUNDS from air conditioner or heat pump system
  • HVAC SYSTEM NOISE DIAGNOSIS
  • PLUMBING SYSTEM NOISE SOURCES
  • POPPING SNAPPING NOISE DIAGNOSIS
  • ROOFING NOISES - flapping, popping, snapping roofs
  • ROOF TEMPERATURE CHANGE & ROOF NOISE - creaks, snaps, pops
  • SIDING NOISES & SOUNDS - thermal movement
  • SOUND EVENT LOG record these details to track down a noise to its source
  • STAIR NOISES
  • TAPPING NOISES in BUILDINGS
  • TICKING NOISE DIAGNOSIS - similar to tapping sounds
  • TEMPERATURE CHANGE RELATED NOISES
  • TICKING NOISES in BUILDINGS - may also be described as tapping
  • TRUSS UPLIFT, ROOF - may explain ceiling noises including snapping or tapping
  • WALL NOISES
  • WATER HEATER NOISE DIAGNOSIS, CURE - scale in the water heater causes noises
  • WIND NOISES at BUILDING

Suggested citation for this web page

TAPPING NOISE DIAGNOSIS at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice.

Or see this

INDEX to RELATED ARTICLES: ARTICLE INDEX to BUILDING NOISE DIAGNOSIS

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