What could cause a whining noise in walls?

October 13, 2005 5:32 PM

What could cause a medium-to-high pitched whining sound in walls? What's the most likely suspect, and who should I call to diagnose/fix it?

I live in a townhome (new construction) and share a wall with a neighbor. Yesterday, the neighbor asked me if I had anything upstairs that makes a whining noise, since it's been bothering him. I told him I hadn't noticed any noise, but to my surprise, when I checked my bedroom, I noticed the sound immediately. It seems to be centered on a specific area of my wall. I can hear it in the same general area of the wall downstairs, too.

My gut tells me it's an electrical thing, and I should call an electrician, but I'd hate to get one out here only to be told it's something else entirely.

So has anyone come across this or have an idea of what it might be?

posted by christie to Home & Garden (9 answers total)

It could also be water pipes. They can do that as well.

Turn you power off to see if it is electrical. Turn your water off to see if it is that. YOur neighbor may need to do that as well.
posted by stuartmm at 5:39 PM on October 13, 2005

The mobile phone of my power supply is on the way out and it makes a really high pitched whining noise on occasion. I've been told that this is a capacitor failing - so keep an eye out for any power supplies around too.
posted by rc55 at 5:41 PM on October 13, 2005

Since it's new construction (although you don't say how new) don't discount the possibility that a workman dropped something electronic down between the wall studs (stud sensor, laser level, etc) and its batteries are dying.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 6:14 PM on October 13, 2005

An electrical transformer can whine but I don't think it's very high pitched. Pipes can make all manner of whining noises from high to low - because you hear it in the same part of the wall upstairs and downstairs, a pipe is a likely candidate.
posted by Krrrlson at 6:25 PM on October 13, 2005

Whoops - just noticed my uber typo. I really did mean "the power supply of my mobile phone". *blush*
posted by rc55 at 6:44 PM on October 13, 2005

Do you have forced-hot-air heat? An obstruction in the duct could be whistling.
posted by Kirth Gerson at 6:54 PM on October 13, 2005

Water pipes? We heard strange whining, creaking, and groaning noises in one wall in our apartment after we moved in, and that's what we were told it was. Took a bit to get used to, since the noises were set off by other apartments using water, not ours.
posted by Melinika at 7:01 PM on October 13, 2005

Waterpipes sound likely. Do some tests, run the shower. etc , see if the pitch varies. Have nieghbor do the same.
posted by signal at 10:12 PM on October 13, 2005

I second Kirth Gerson. Something in the HVAC system.
posted by fixedgear at 7:26 AM on October 14, 2005