HOPKINS, Minn. — As the winter wind howls outside, a symphony of clangs, bangs and cracks vibrates through houses, confusing those who live in them.
Red Wing’s Lauri said via email, “I am hearing loud creaking or banging noises coming from the roof trusses or exterior walls. What is causing these noises and are the roof trusses or two-by-fours being damaged?”
Barak Steenlage, co-owner of Anchor Builders, said this could be due to extreme temperature fluctuations. Standing in a Hopkins home that his company had been remodeling for years, he provided details about the issue at hand.
“We’re going from a very humid, hot summer with a lot of moisture in our homes to a quite dry, cold winter. And as the temperature changes, there’s thermal contraction,” Steenlage said.
Building materials such as wood, metal and glass expand when exposed to heat and shrink when cold. Not just seasonal, but daily.
Exposing one side of a house to sunlight can be enough to heat up and expand walls and windows, causing them to contract at nightfall, making noise along the way.
Are there certain areas of the house more sensitive to noise?
“I think your attics and your walls are the most important, and then your HVAC system,” Steenlage said.
The attic and walls experience the cold outside on the one hand and the warm indoor climate on the other.
HVAC systems allow both hot and cold air to flow through them as they are turned on and off, leading to constant expansion and contraction.
“You hear that all year round,” says Steenlage.
Wooden floors can creak more in winter because the dry air causes the planks to contract and pull apart.
Areas where two different types of materials come together, such as a wooden cabinet against drywall, increase the chance of making noise.
How can someone quiet the noise in their home?
“Adding a whole-house humidifier is a great way to add moisture back into the air,” says Steenlage.
Keeping the air humid, about 30 to 40%, in winter helps the wood retain its shape and integrity, limiting the noise it creates.
But as long as the brutal cold follows the balmy northern summers, homes will continue to respond to the temperature changes.
If the sounds are shockingly loud or if cracks develop or expand as a result of the noise, Steenlage says to call a professional for an evaluation.
Jeff Wagner
