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Update Noise stopped! - Help needed - High pitched squeal in basement ceiling (1 Viewer)

Buzzbait

Buzzbait

Footballguy
Two nights ago I went downstairs to watch TV and heard a very annoying high pitched squeal coming from above. The sound is from somewhere near the ceiling and away from the exterior walls. After not being able to locate the source I went up stairs, stood over the same location and put my ear to the floor. Nothing. You can't hear it from upstairs.  My first assumption was it was electrical so I turned off all the switches at the fuse box one by one but the sound still persisted. That limits the cause to either something battery powered or something in the pipes. The only item in the basement that has a battery attached that I'm aware of is the security system but the sound isn't coming from that. I shut off the water supply, opened faucets and flushed toilets to no avail. I really don't think it's in the pipes but I'm just trying to eliminate all possibilities one by one. I gave up on it and hoped it would subsided but last night I went down and it's still there.

We've been in this house for 7 years and this is the first occurrence. Anyone else have this issue before and if so what was your root cause?

 
Last edited by a moderator:
kutta said:
Is it always there? Day, night, always?
Click to expand...
I assume so. I first noticed it Monday night and it was still there last night. I haven't checked at other times of the day (i.e. this morning) to confirm that it's 24/7. I'll check it at very times to confirm that my assumption is correct.

 
Buzzbait said:
Two nights ago I went downstairs to watch TV and heard a very annoying high pitched squeal coming from above. The sound is from somewhere near the ceiling and away from the exterior walls. After not being able to locate the source I went up stairs, stood over the same location and put my ear to the floor. Nothing. You can't hear it from upstairs.  My first assumption was it was electrical so I turned off all the switches at the fuse box one by one but the sound still persisted. That limits the cause to either something battery powered or something in the pipes. The only item in the basement that has a battery attached that I'm aware of is the security system but the sound isn't coming from that. I shut off the water supply, opened faucets and flushed toilets to no avail. I really don't think it's in the pipes but I'm just trying to eliminate all possibilities one by one. I gave up on it and hoped it would subsided but last night I went down and it's still there.

We've been in this house for 7 years and this is the first occurrence. Anyone else have this issue before and if so what was your root cause?
Click to expand...
Did you only turn off individual fuses, or did you turn off the main breaker to the house too?  If not, try that just to be sure.

Did you check smoke detectors?

 
I had an issue like this.  Turned out to be gas pipe related.  The gas pressure was changed (higher) and ultimately needed a different regulator on my meter, the gas company was nice enough to do this for free.  

Are you 100% sure none of your gas appliances, even ones with pilot lights are off?  Can you cut the gas to the house?  Even after doing this wait awhile, like 2-3 hours to see if it's gone.

You say it sounds electronic and that's what I thought too, like it was a dying smoke alarm, but it wasn't.  

If you don't have gas in the house then I would say it's ball cancer.

 
GregR said:
Did you only turn off individual fuses, or did you turn off the main breaker to the house too?  If not, try that just to be sure.

Did you check smoke detectors?
Click to expand...
Go outside and smash the meter

 
I'll bet that your wife had to quickly hide her vibrator in the ceiling and didn't have time to turn it off.

 
Update = no change

I was busy yesterday and didn't have time to do any more investigation but went down this morning before leaving for work and it still persists. Best guess at this point is a pipe (water or gas pressure change) or something on a battery. Between those I'd guess it's a pipe because the only battery I'm aware of is the alarm system. It uses a battery for backup in case of power outage but the sound is not coming from the security box.

 
Buzzbait said:
Update = no change

I was busy yesterday and didn't have time to do any more investigation but went down this morning before leaving for work and it still persists. Best guess at this point is a pipe (water or gas pressure change) or something on a battery. Between those I'd guess it's a pipe because the only battery I'm aware of is the alarm system. It uses a battery for backup in case of power outage but the sound is not coming from the security box.
Click to expand...
Any gate type shut off valves in any of the water lines?  If they are not open 100% the little washer inside can eventually work free and the water pressure can cause it to vibrate.  I redid my bathroom 4 years ago, put in new valves under the sink.  Last month it started making noise when I turned the faucet on high.  Finally realized that both valves had another complete turn before the were 100% open. 

From Ask this old house

 
Pretty simple turn off water and gas at re shut offs  to the house (one by one, wait an hour in between and observe) 

 
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