A house full of persistent little sounds can drive you crazy all day and keep you up at night. House noises are usually early indicators of potential problems that require attention. Our real estate agents have prepared a list of fixes for the most common house noises to help you restore peace and quiet to your home.

• Whistling Window
  A window that whistles in a strong wind can make for a long day. The unwanted whistling can be caused by worn weather stripping, improperly installed windows, the simple passage of time, or changes in temperature. You can soundproof your window by caulking or weatherstripping around the frame to take care of any possible leak.
  
  
• Humming Appliances
  Humming noises coming from electrical appliances could indicate different problems depending on the appliance. A buzzing refrigerator could mean the compressor is breaking down. A sputtering or grinding dishwasher may mean something is stuck in the chopper blade area. A humming dryer could point to an object stuck in the blower wheel. Or the problem could be coming from an outlet or switch that has a loose wire. If the noise is coming from a particular appliance, unplug it immediately and call an expert to diagnose and fix the problem.
  
  
• Scratching Sound from Behind the Walls
  If you hear strange noises like chittering, scratching, squeaking, or buzzing coming from your walls and attic, you could have an unexpected guest sharing your quarters. From raccoons, squirrels, and mice, to birds, bees, and bats, these freeloaders can cause serious destruction to your home, and some can spread deadly diseases. Try setting traps or call a local animal expert for help. Relocate the animal several miles away and seal up the entrances to your house.
  
  
• The Rattling Pipes
  Your plumbing can decide to make its presence known with a rattling noise that is both worrisome and annoying. There could be a few reasons why your pipes are creating that rattling noise. To start with, it could be that the pipe is not properly anchored and clanks up against floor joists when water runs through. You can fix this by wrapping the pipe in rubber pipe insulation and securing it to the wood framing using pipe straps or clips every 4 feet.
  
  Another issue could be high water pressure, which can cause pipes to vibrate, especially when turning a faucet on or off. Installing a pressure reduction or regulator valve to the incoming main line could correct that problem. Finally, you could be experiencing what is called a water hammer, which is caused by a blocked vent pipe or fast-closing valves. This can be fixed by replacing toilet fill valves with slow-shutting ones. Or, you can turn on the highest and lowest faucet in the house to allow water to drain our and allow air into your pipes.
  
  
• Noises from the Furnace
  There are several different sounds you might hear from the furnace. You can fix some of these furnace problems either by replacing a filter, oiling your blower motor, or checking your flue. But it is a good idea to call in an HVAC professional to avoid further damage and home-threatening problems.

• • Scraping: could be an indication of a broken motor mount or a loose or broken blower heel.
  • Thumping: this could be the result of a blower wheel or motor that is out of balance.
  • Squealing: this could be due to a lack of lubricant is a loose fan belt.
  • Banging: this could be a sign of closed vents, undersized duct, or a clogged filter.
  • Humming: a humming sound in your furnace could be caused by a bad interior fan or capacitor.
  • Whistling: occurs when the filter gets dirty.

Listening to what your home is telling you and fixing those problems could save you a lot of money and stress. Contact us today to learn how to prepare your Atlanta home for sale.