I’m a heating expert – if you can hear these noises in your home then you’re throwing money down the drain

HEARING mystery noises at home? 

Houses can make a lot of noise, especially in seasons with extreme temperatures, like winter. 

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Materials like wood and metal contract and expand with temperature fluctuations, which can make noises that you only notice at night when the house is quiet - but some noises aren’t so normal, and can be a sign that you’re spending more than you need to on your energy bills.

Heating expert at iHeat Stephen Day has revealed the most Googled house noises and how to fix them, so you can stop wasting money.

BOILER GOING ON AND OFF AND ON AGAIN

If you hear your boiler constantly cycling through turning on, heating up, and turning off, and back on again, it could mean it’s struggling to maintain the correct temperature, and is using more energy than necessary.

Like being stuck in traffic and only driving a tiny distance at a time, using fuel but not getting very far, constant cycling forces the boiler to work hard in short bursts, consuming energy but not heating your home efficiently.

There are a few things that could cause this issue, from low water pressure, to trapped air which causes the system to overheat and shut down as a safety measure. Bleed your radiators to release any trapped air, and call an engineer to diagnose the fault if that doesn't resolve the issue.

CREAKING & WHISTLING

Creaking floorboards often means there’s probably a draught coming in between the gaps, letting cold wind in, and warmth from your heating out. 

A whistling sound can indicate that the draught is coming in through gaps around doors and windows, letterboxes, or down unused chimneys.

Draughts like these can mean you use as much as 20% more energy than necessary to keep your home warm, so draught proofing your home is essential. 

Fill gaps in floorboards, and replace seals around doors and windows to keep the heat in, and use less energy to keep it warm.

BANGING

A banging noise coming from the boiler can mean a couple of things, the most common being kettling.

When limescale and debris builds up in the heat exchanger, it can restrict the flow of water and cause localised boiling. 

This means the boiler becomes less efficient, using more energy to maintain a consistent temperature. It could also be a fault with the pump or diverter valve, cause fluctuations in pressure which make the banging noise. It's best to call in an expert to assess the issue and fix any problems before they get worse.

HUMMING

The constant, low hum of your fridge often goes unnoticed – but if you suddenly start to notice it more than usual, it could be a sign that it’s working too hard to keep your food cold.

The condenser coils in your fridge are responsible for keeping a consistent cool temperature, and some fridges – luxury models, or fridges that are older than 10-15 years - require you to clean them regularly, to keep them free from dust and dirt, in order to work correctly. 

If the coils aren’t the issue, check the seals around the doors and make sure you defrost regularly too.

HISSING 

The most common cause of a hiss coming from your radiators is trapped air.

Air bubbles can get trapped as hot water circulates through the system, and as they expand and contact when the temperature rises and falls, it can cause the hissing sound. 

This trapped air can prevent the water from circulating properly, meaning your boiler has to work harder and use more energy to heat your home. Bleeding your radiator is a very simple and quick process to release the air and get your radiators working as efficiently as possible.