We get strong winter winds that produce a mysterious thumping noise I can’t track down. Everything seems secure. I’m stumped.—Ed C., Manitowoc, Wisconsin
Mystery noises can be maddeningly difficult to track down. They’re almost as bad in a house as they are in a car.
Begin on the side of the house that the wind strikes. Look at the sliding doors (if there are any) and objects stored outside that might rock against the house such as a gas grill, loose siding or aluminum trim, a light fixture, an old aluminum awning, or a loose shutter. Also consider that what you’re hearing may not be something loose but a corner that catches the wind. I had a basement window blow in recently when a violent downdraft got caught between the backyard fence, the rear wall of the house, and a bunch of stuff that I had stored outside that wasn’t in its usual location. Check if you’ve created a wind pocket.
Finally, repeat the procedure on the downwind side of the house. The suction produced on this side can be quite powerful. If nothing obvious turns up, you’ll need to hire a roofer to look for a loose vent cap on the roof or a piece of flashing that’s moving and transmitting the noise down through a rafter and into the attic.
This appears in the December 2017 issue.
