April 1, 20205 yr We periodically hear a very very loud pop coming from upstairs every once and awhile. We are fairly sure it’s in the attic, and we originally thought it was the gas to the gas heater. But the sound is happening when the heater isn’t even running. We thought maybe it is the water heater but we don’t think the sound is coming from that part of the attic and the water heater is only one year old. It’s a new house. Any ideas?
April 1, 20205 yr 3 minutes ago, Upgrayedd said: The weasel? I mean really, Occams Razor dictates that's the correct answer... Edited April 1, 20205 yr by Onboard 2.0
April 1, 20205 yr Surly.... when you absolutely, positively need complete, and utter sarcasm thrown your way.
April 1, 20205 yr Because it's a new house, I might assume that shifting is causing something in the attic to pop. A truss, a joist, roof plywood, something of that nature.
April 1, 20205 yr 2 minutes ago, TwiceHorn said: Because it's a new house, I might assume that shifting is causing something in the attic to pop. A truss, a joist, roof plywood, something of that nature. My first thought as well. The up thread answers are much more entertaining though. Edited April 1, 20205 yr by Onboard 2.0
April 1, 20205 yr 1 hour ago, Dbeasy said: We periodically hear a very very loud pop coming from upstairs every once and awhile. We are fairly sure it’s in the attic, and we originally thought it was the gas to the gas heater. But the sound is happening when the heater isn’t even running. We thought maybe it is the water heater but we don’t think the sound is coming from that part of the attic and the water heater is only one year old. It’s a new house. Any ideas? I would speculate it could be house framing moving against itself. I lived in a 60's vintage house for about 10 years, and has a similar phenomenon that lasted for a couple years then stopped. Every once in a while, and it seemed to be predominantly in the afternoon I would get a fairly loud "pop" sound out of the attic above the living room. Seemed like the afternoon breeze and sun were factors, but I could never make a singular diagnosis.
April 1, 20205 yr I don't know if Austin has received the kind of rain Dallas has received, but if it has, that's the kind of thing that makes a house move around a bit.
April 1, 20205 yr 9 minutes ago, TwiceHorn said: I don't know if Austin has received the kind of rain Dallas has received, but if it has, that's the kind of thing that makes a house move around a bit. Like an Ark on the high seas ? Man, Coronavirus, super volcanoes, and now flooding !! We already had the locusts though. Edited April 1, 20205 yr by Onboard 2.0
April 1, 20205 yr It would also be common more during this time of year with the drastic changes in temperature if it is your house settling. I’ll bet it stops during the summer.
April 1, 20205 yr Does it happen in the mornings, after it has been cool/cold at night? PVC drain pipes would be cold, water draining (drain pipe runs from upstairs, down through a wall) from a shower would be warm. The PVC drain pipe will expand and make a sort of popping sound against the metal clamps that are holding it in place. This will usually stop in the summer, but then re-appear in a year. This is the theory that I settled on, but now I have to investigate the weasel idea.
April 1, 20205 yr Because it's a new house, I might assume that shifting is causing something in the attic to pop. A truss, a joist, roof plywood, something of that nature.Yeah, I bet your house has a lot of moisture fluctuation and shitty OSB/plywood nails. The framers fly through their stage and inspectors can’t really catch a lot of potential problems.
April 1, 20205 yr I would check out the water heater drip pan if it’s in the attic. Might be your water heater pressure relief valve popping, if it’s set incorrectly or has a manufacturing defect.
April 1, 20205 yr Author Yeah, I bet your house has a lot of moisture fluctuation and shitty OSB/plywood nails. The framers fly through their stage and inspectors can’t really catch a lot of potential problems.Gawd dammit that OSB! (WTF is an OSB)
April 1, 20205 yr Oriented Strand Board. An ultra-cheap form of plywood because it contains no plys, just wood chips glued together. In some circumstances, I have heard it referred to as GLIT for glued-together-shit.
April 1, 20205 yr 4 minutes ago, TwiceHorn said: Oriented Strand Board. An ultra-cheap form of plywood because it contains no plys, just wood chips glued together. In some circumstances, I have heard it referred to as GLIT for glued-together-shit. Well there is structurally rated OSB.
April 1, 20205 yr Loud pop isn't anything to be concerned about. If you start hearing loud rap or jazz gtfo.
April 1, 20205 yr 1 hour ago, Onboard 2.0 said: Well there is structurally rated OSB. Structural GLIT
April 1, 20205 yr Does it happen a few minutes after someone finishes taking a shower? If so, likely from pipes heating up and then cooling and shifting as they cool. If so, go up in the attic and find where they are nailed down and "loosen" them as likely they were just nailed in too tight and loosening them very slightly will give them room to shift without making that noise.
April 1, 20205 yr 1 minute ago, Onboard 2.0 said: ?? 1 hour ago, TwiceHorn said: Oriented Strand Board. An ultra-cheap form of plywood because it contains no plys, just wood chips glued together. In some circumstances, I have heard it referred to as GLIT for glued-together-shit.
April 1, 20205 yr 8 minutes ago, Upgrayedd said: I didn't see the acronym, figured it was something like that
April 1, 20205 yr 11 minutes ago, Incredulity said: I read it as Structural Clit. Combined with your avatar, it worked. Her's isn't structural. It's lick and stick.
April 1, 20205 yr Are you sure it was upstairs and not in the backyard? I was watching a movie with my daughter Saturday and we heard a loud pop from the back yard and saw sparks flying everywhere. I went outside and there was a small fire in the bushes so I sprayed it with the water hose. The power flickered off, but came back on. I assume that some creature got crispy crittered by the transformer, but I didn't see any burnt remains.
April 1, 20205 yr Author Does it happen a few minutes after someone finishes taking a shower? If so, likely from pipes heating up and then cooling and shifting as they cool. If so, go up in the attic and find where they are nailed down and "loosen" them as likely they were just nailed in too tight and loosening them very slightly will give them room to shift without making that noise.No water usage. No heater usage. But it sounds like the heater popping. Confusing.
April 1, 20205 yr 17 minutes ago, Dbeasy said: No water usage. No heater usage. But it sounds like the heater popping. Confusing. I suggest a sleeping bag, bag of Doritos, a bottle of good bourbon, and a flash light, Just you and the attic tonight !!
April 1, 20205 yr We periodically hear a very very loud pop coming from upstairs every once and awhile.
April 1, 20205 yr Was your house built upon land originally used for an old Indian graveyard perchance?
April 2, 20205 yr 13 hours ago, Hate said: It would also be common more during this time of year with the drastic changes in temperature if it is your house settling. I’ll bet it stops during the summer. This is correct. It is not at all uncommon for movement in any structure, whether steel framed or lumber. & FYI, decking is (supposed to be) installed with "H Clips" to allow for expansion movement AND provide some structural rigidity on the 8' sides. Nothing in the slightest to worry about.
April 2, 20205 yr When I was just a wee lad, my house attic would make popping noises at night. It always scared me thinking I had ghost or a serial killer in the attic. Turns out it was just the boards, pipes and shit cooling down and contracting in the cooler night time temps. That's what the ghost told, anyway.
April 3, 20205 yr I used to rent a piece of shit near 51st & Eilers, which is now called "Hyde Park" (LOL). The gas furnace had a defective ignition system, so in the winter, gas would partially fill the attic before igniting. It did not sound like a "pop".
April 4, 20205 yr Author After looking into it I’m pretty sure someone has been chucking dildos onto my roof. That’s the only reasonable explanation.
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