…… Mystery noise identification, hive mind help request.

[Macgyver]

Ok so figured this was a good group question. For info not my house.

Mystery noise coming from a garage ceiling.
2 story townhouse middle unit. Up and down is same unit.
Above garage is a bedroom.
It's a constant higher pitched alarm type sound almost like the reverse alarm on a gilf cart.
House is 9 years old, sound started 3 weeks ago and never stopped.
Killing the power doesn't stop it.
No plumbing even close by..

What battery powered object could have been left there 9 years ago by contractors, remain silent all this time then just decide to start making noise.

 

[ted]

Spooks? Sorry I couldn't resist.

 

[Hognutz]

Smoke detector? Carbon monoxide?

 

[bw]

I suggest it's not on your house circuit, or not any breaker you cut.

 

[WalknTrot]

Have you asked your upstairs neighbor..or is anybody even living in the apartment above your garage?

 

[Intestinal Fortitude]

Do you have the source located?

Suggest a stethoscope device to find where it is at

 

[Macgyver]

I suggest it's not on your house circuit, or not any breaker you cut.

Thought of that a little. This a 5 unit row of houses. Meter stack is on one end. 5 meters each with their own main. Service cables to each unit run in the ground under the slab.

Vertical fire walls between each unit. (Someone would have had to try really hard to wire one unit to another)

 

[Macgyver]

Have you asked your upstairs neighbor..or is anybody living in the apartment above you?

Is a 2 story unit. No one above.

 

[Pinecone]

Neighbors?

 

[Macgyver]

Smoke detector? Carbon monoxide?

Already completely unplugged each one including the attic even though they were not alerting.

 

[Macgyver]

Neighbors?

Each side. But it's the loudest in this garage.

 

[foreverkeeps]

Do you have attic access? We do in our townhouses. Can you carefully go up there or someone go up there and follow the sound?

 

[Macgyver]

Do you have attic access? We do in our townhouses. Can you carefully go up there or someone go up there and follow the sound?

It's not in the attic. There is still the 2nd floor bedroom above the garage.

 

[foreverkeeps]

Actually it sounds like it’s between your floors. I think you’re gonna have to have someone open up the sheet rock and I hope they’re wearing a bee suit.

 

[Cacheman]

Look for a small exhaust fan that has gone unnoticed.

If there is it may be a bad bearing.

 

[foreverkeeps]

Have you unplugged the garage door opener?

 

[Knoxville's Joker]

Actually it sounds like it’s between your floors. I think you’re gonna have to have someone open up the sheet rock and I hope they’re wearing a bee suit.

This, It sounds like it might be bees or something else in the bee critter family...

 

[Pinecone]

Could it be pressure building up in a pipe?

 

[bw]

Actually it sounds like it’s between your floors. I think you’re gonna have to have someone open up the sheet rock and I hope they’re wearing a bee suit.

Drill a half-inch hole and put an endoscope in there. Easy to patch if it's a dry hole, so to speak. Easy to block if it turns out to be bees.

 

[Pinecone]

This, It sounds like it might be bees or something else in the bee critter family...

I had wasps in the garage roof. You could hear them chewing as well as the buzz. It was fun getting them out. Sarc/

 

[Macgyver]

Look for a small exhaust fan that has gone unnoticed.

If there is it may be a bad bearing.

Have you unplugged the garage door opener?

Killed the main outside already and doesn't stop.

This, It sounds like it might be bees or something else in the bee critter family...

Could it be pressure building up in a pipe?

No plumbing in the area.

I had wasps in the garage roof. You could hear them chewing as well as the buzz. It was fun getting them out. Sarc/

I'll tell them to check the exterior for visible insects.

I have bees and from what I was told it's loud. This can be heard outside a 100 feet away when it's quiet outside.

 

[Knoxville's Joker]

Killed the main outside already and doesn't stop.


No plumbing in the area.

I'll tell them to check the exterior for visible insects.

I have bees and from what I was told it's loud. This can be heard outside a 100 feet away when it's quiet outside.

Eeek. If this is a garage area and they have to rip out drywall to get things out, you can use that as an excuse to insulate and seal the crap out of things.

 

[Macgyver]

Ok so just checked. The sound is only faint in the units on either side.

Bees were already considered and they had their exterminator out that found nothing.

 

[greysage]

Foul play of some sort. Maybe a neighbor hoping they move?

 

[Knoxville's Joker]

Ok so just checked. The sound is only faint in the units on either side.

Bees were already considered and they had their exterminator out that found nothing.

get a scope cam and drill a hole and peak, FYI, wear as much PPE as you can tolerate and get your hands on just in case. Dad has one of those cams and they are DAMN handy. Gives you a view of things that you otherwise could not see...

 

[Macgyver]

Also they have not been able to even put an ear to the ceiling yet because it's very high.

The garage sits about 3' lower then the 1st floor and the ceilings are 10'. So garage ceiling is close to 13' tall

 

[ShadowMan]

Get a cheap medical stethoscope and place it against the wall/ceiling and see if you can find the source. Or even better, check out your local Auto Parts stores, they should carry a Mechanic's Stethoscope. They look the same as a medical one except there's a thin tubular probe on the end instead of the round flat diaphragm. HIGH CEILINGS....use a tall stepladder.

Engine Stethoscope Set, Auto Stainless Steel Mechanics Cylinder Stethoscope Car Engine Diagnostic Tool Hearing Tool $9.99 on Amazon.​

 

[Macgyver]

Foul play of some sort. Maybe a neighbor hoping they move?

The sound is barely audible in the neighboring units.

 

[Cacheman]

Just a thought, is there a security system on the garage door that night have a battery back up?

 

[SAPPHIRE]

Aliens !!!!! (sarc)

 

[Heliobas Disciple]

Can you hear it from the bedroom floor? Maybe it would be easier to locate it from above it than from below it?

 

[energy_wave]

Ok so figured this was a good group question. For info not my house.

Mystery noise coming from a garage ceiling.
2 story townhouse middle unit. Up and down is same unit.
Above garage is a bedroom.
It's a constant higher pitched alarm type sound almost like the reverse alarm on a gilf cart.
House is 9 years old, sound started 3 weeks ago and never stopped.
Killing the power doesn't stop it.
No plumbing even close by..

What battery powered object could have been left there 9 years ago by contractors, remain silent all this time then just decide to start making noise.

Any heating cooling units up there? Could be an alarm for servicing.

 

[kyrsyan]

Have you cut off the main breakers for the units on either side of the sound - at the same time? Ideally, for all the connected units. If the sound goes away, turn back on, one by one, until the sound reappears. That will give you the unit whose electrical system is connected to whatever the sound is. Then hunt from there.

If the sound continues when all units are off, then it's battery powered in some way. If it's electrical based. Battery ghosting can be an amusing thing. Either side have kids? Also, sound can travel weirdly depending on what is around the source. Most likely is a phone or kid toy.

Another item may be a pinhole somewhere that has wind or airflow blowing over it.

 

[Czechsix]

Also they have not been able to even put an ear to the ceiling yet because it's very high.

The garage sits about 3' lower then the 1st floor and the ceilings are 10'. So garage ceiling is close to 13' tall

Get a long enough piece of PVC pipe, use that against the ceiling, other end on your ear. Keep moving it until you find the loudest point. Try it, it works fine.

 

[summerthyme]

Also they have not been able to even put an ear to the ceiling yet because it's very high.

The garage sits about 3' lower then the 1st floor and the ceilings are 10'. So garage ceiling is close to 13' tall

Can they hear it in the bedroom?

Summerthyme

 

[foreverkeeps]

I am so curious as to what you find

 

[Knoxville's Joker]

Also they have not been able to even put an ear to the ceiling yet because it's very high.

The garage sits about 3' lower then the 1st floor and the ceilings are 10'. So garage ceiling is close to 13' tall

Can you rent or fit a scissor lift in the area in question? They got units now that are darned small. Otherwise you have to fit a 13' ladder in and those bastidges suck when you are up high and things are not perfectly stable...

 

[ainitfunny]

A human body hidden in the wall or floor whose watch has gone off on the alarn setting when the flesh disappeared allowing the bones to move and the watch alarm to be set off.
Now don't you think i have a good imagination?

 

[Squib]

The gov has a listening/video device that needs its battery changed.

 

[kenny1659]

I had a smoke detector that started going off, unplugged it and it still made noise. Took the battery out and it still made a noise but not as loud. Set it outside and after 2 weeks it quit making noise.