Sounds eminating from walls when house is cold

[WolfOfBakerStreet]

In winter, I'm getting these cracking and rattling sounds in my walls when the building vibrates. But in the summer, virtually non existent.

Nothing to do with pipework, as there are no pipes in the wall in question.

Did remove Creeping Ivy from said wall two years or so back. Wondering if maybe something to do with wall less insulated? Ivy growing back, but very slowly.

Some gaps in the outer walls, most notably in the two bits where there used to be windows, but is now just brickwork. Gaps are in the bit where the window used to be, but is now brickwork, at either side.

Any suggestions or recommendations on who to call to come look at this?

Cheers!

 

[cdbe]

Ghostbusters?

 

[WolfOfBakerStreet]

No. They'd probably cause more damage than they'd fix, you know what those blokes are like.

Anyone else?

 

[Hans Pullesh]

An obvious question, but are there any cracks on any wall?

 

[^woody^]

A bit more info about the construction would help - things like are these cavity walls and is it built on a graveyard and what causes the building to vibrate in the first place?

 

[WolfOfBakerStreet]

Don't know if it's a cavity wall. It's a really old building. Not built on a grave yard or any other kind of burial ground. Zero angry Indian spirits, thus far. Vibrates as it's near a main road. I only mention the vibration thing as that's when the noise occurs. It isn't as if the rest of the house makes noise or bounces up and down

 

[WolfOfBakerStreet]

An obvious question, but are there any cracks on any wall?

I don't believe so. Not obvious if there are.

 

[^woody^]

Internal walls, external walls, front, back, downstairs, upstairs?

 

[WolfOfBakerStreet]

There don't appear to be any cracks on the exterior or interior walls.

Someone mentioned to me how it might be something to do with the wooden window frames reacting to the changing temperatures. The most prominent noises come from right above the window. Could that be something to do with it?

 

[WolfOfBakerStreet]

ttt

 

[bernardgreen]

The most prominent noises come from right above the window. Could that be something to do with it?

Do the windows have trickle vents in the top of the frames ? They can "moan" in the wind or rattle if something has got into the vent and is "rattled" by the air passing through the vent

 

[^woody^]

Timber is a stable material so not noisy and certainly does not change due to temperature.

The sounds you describe are typically related to metal. But without me coming around for tea one warm day with a cold evening forecast, that's as good as you will get.