Demon spot in my house - weird vibration / noise

[Deschodt]

Lately we get woken up around the same time by a strange vibration in our ceiling around 7AM... There's a noise sounding like light jackhammering, like a metal pipe vibrating. Odd thing, it lasts maybe 20 minutes, comes and goes, dies off and picks up again, and is around the same time every day. Early AM.

Data points: the house is on a hillside, so when I say ceiling I mean between downstairs and upstairs in the master bedtroom ceiling, that located is under the garage and near a foundation wall where pipes presumably run. There is nothing going on in the garage above, the compressor is off, the mini fridge runs all day and is not vibrating when I check. I've run there a few times - nada. Can't even hear it. My first thought was "water hammer" BUT a) I turned off water main, drained all pipes, refilled in reverse order etc.. still there. b) no water being used at the time in the house or outside. It sounds mechanical in nature, like a failing motor or vibrating metal thing, clanking, more than water in a pipe but not ruling a copper pipe touching something and vibrating... I really can't think of anything there under the floor of the garage.

EDIT: ALso the heater is not running at that time... Water heater might be but there are no hot water pipes in that area as the bathrooms and kitchen are in the other directions.

Maybe that's when our neighbor showers ;-) (detached home, neighbor is 12 ft away on that side). Maybe it's resonance from something far away... My next thought is to be ready one morning and go turn off water + power when this happens - too sleepy today.

Any ideas or exorcisms appreciated.

[blucille]

do you have baseboard heat? Electric baseboard in one room, or a boiler sending heat thru copper (or other) pipes? It's tough without knowing where in California you are.

hydronic heat systems can be very noisy, especially as the pipes pass between rooms or levels/floors of the house.

[Deschodt]

Negative on baseboard heat, central heat via floor and ceiling vents, not running at the time.
Hot water heater yes, but not in that area for pipes as far as I know - althought there is a condemned hot/cold water outlet in the garage that used to be for a washer. It hasn't been in use for 6 years and noise just started, still that is an idea.

Not sure how "where in Cali" matters but Marin country just north of golden gate - am I on a ley line of mystical power? Thanks !

[craigster59]

Do you have a water softener? Sometimes those cycle early morning to do a "clean out".

[stevej37]

^^^ This.
My softener is set for 3am and I've been waken by the water pipe sound many times.

[Deschodt]

Not that I am aware - no. But thank you for the ideas.... I just went to the garage and found a loose metal bracket contacting the dead pipes there behind the drywall. ... I dare not hope that was it because it's nowhere near the apparent source and I do think those pipes are dead, but it's something. Might turn off water main tonight and see..
If nothing happens in the AM I'll know it's water pipe related.

The timing gets me... Granted I do not spend the day in my BR to be 100% sure it's not happening at other times, but it's not happening in the evening or overnight, only around 7AM every day is odd... Can a neighbor's water pipes pass on vibrations via the water main ?

[flatbutt]

Woodpecker? Sometimes their sound is hard to pinpoint.

[LEAKYSEALS951]

I have a similar thing at my house. It's not water pipe related, but more of where there is a loose connection somewhere in the framing of the house, and as it goes through the daily heating/cooling cycle, something settles and creates a loud "thud"

In your case, I would start by doing just what you are doing, locating loose fittings, experimenting with turning water off. Also maybe shooting some small amounts of foam insulation around various pipes to reduce the chance of a pipe vibrating against something as the water pressure changes due to whatever is causing the pressure change.


Also- check your bathroom-

[Deschodt]

Ha, well played...

Honestly it sounds like a mini compressor running and dying slowly and running again for 15 minutes around 7AM. Weird stuff...

[Fast Freddy 944]

Mind probes? Ya never's knows...

[black73]

Originally Posted by Deschodt

Maybe it's resonance from something far away...

or not so far away. Would need to do a CSI. Any industrial activity in the area?

[svandamme]

set the entire house on fire with plenty of accelerants:
if it was demons it will put itself out
if not, it will burn to the ground and you'll know for sure it's safe.

Trust me , I know about these things, I live in Europe where we had to deal with witches in the old days.
We don't have any more witches , so it worked.

[Deschodt]

You guys are useless ;-) funny though ;-)

I followed my water main and noticed that a contractor left a caulk gun on the pipe wedged between it and the wall. Right spot in that I can tell the water pipe enters between floors there, so it could be vibrating... Yanked it out. We shall see.. Still would indicate high pressure issues but that's a start.

I lived here 6y, never noticed that caulking gun before, could be the neighbor left it there caulking his house...

[LWJ]

You might check out "Molalla Area Paranormal Society."

They are a few miles away from me. Seem to be on the cutting edge of this whole demon/ ectoplasm thing.

[Nostril Cheese]

[LEAKYSEALS951]

https://www.walmart.com/ip/5-Led-EMF-Meter-Magnetizing-Field-Detector-Ghost-Detecting-Paranormal-Equipment-Tool-Counter/252473957?wmlspartner=wmtlabs&adid=22222222222362836511&wmlspartner=wmtlabs&wl0=e&wl1=s&wl2=c&wl3=74904359989067&wl4=pla-4578503896542462&wl5=&wl6=&wl7=&%20wl10=Walmart&wl12=252473957_10000020145&wl14=ghost%20detector&veh=sem&msclkid=f49afc88fdde1459621ca3463c3f9090

[rattlsnak]

Pro tip. Don't watch - The Conjuring - until you figure out what it is..

[Bill Douglas]

It could even be a cold water pipe and the city council (water supply people...) up the pressure ready for a new day. Id have a look, and any pipe that doesn't have a retaining clamp every meter or so gets one.

[wswartzwel]

our Ice maker seems to be on a time clock. Pipes make noise when it fills/shuts off

[A930Rocket]

Is your house built on a cemetery?