Tenants are hearing a beeping noise - we can't figure out what it is.

Tenants are hearing a beeping noise - we can't figure out what it is.

New to Real Estate · Montclair, NJ · Member since 2016 · 6 posts · 4 votes

Hello!  My current tenants have been hearing a beeping noise for the last month and a half or so.  My first thought was to change the batteries in a fire/smoke alarm, carbon monoxide detectors, etc. - or some other electronic device.  We've removed devices, unplugged appliances, changed filters, I've had plumbers out to see the hot water heater, I've had appliance guys out to check the fridge - they haven't been able to pinpoint where the sound is coming from and everytime I've been there for 1-2 hour chunks at a time to look around for anything I haven't heard it.

UNTIL TODAY.  The beeping is a 4 second beep that appears to be coming from the basement.   The timing is entirely random, sometimes more than 24 hours apart, sometimes every 30-45 minutes. The tenants swear it's on one side near the washer/dryer - both have been unplugged and they've still heard it.  To mine and my wife's ears it sounded like it was on the opposite side near the circuit breaker, furnace, and modem/router.

One of the tenants was very concerned about the possibility of it being dangerous - possibly carbon monoxide, and this morning mentioned that she would be staying in a hotel until it's resolved, so I had the fire department out today to check for carbon monoxide and they didn't find anything and they even told her pretty much what I've been saying this entire time which is - you might need to sit down in the basement until you hear it and move closer and closer to where it's coming from until you can figure it out.  The truth is, I don't think they want to do that, and are expecting me to do it.  Because the beep happens at random intervals or sometimes days apart, this seems unreasonable to me.

As a last ditch effort, I am having our electric, hvacs, and washer and dryer looked at.  All these service calls will have cost me close to $1000.  But, this is probably cheaper than also throwing in a hotel bill on top of it and I do understand their frustration so I'm willing to do that.  The only other thing I can think of is to setup microphones around the basement and see which has the loudest audio wave when I import it into garageband and narrow down the location that way.  

I guess my question is this:  Does anyone have ANY idea of what it could possibly be? OR any advice on how best to handle the situation if I am handling it incorrectly?  

Thank you!

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Investor · Scottsdale Austin Tuktoyaktuk · Member since 2021 · 4k+ posts · 4k+ votes
3y
Quote from @Chris Green:

Hello!  My current tenants have been hearing a beeping noise for the last month and a half or so.  My first thought was to change the batteries in a fire/smoke alarm, carbon monoxide detectors, etc. - or some other electronic device.  We've removed devices, unplugged appliances, changed filters, I've had plumbers out to see the hot water heater, I've had appliance guys out to check the fridge - they haven't been able to pinpoint where the sound is coming from and everytime I've been there for 1-2 hour chunks at a time to look around for anything I haven't heard it.

UNTIL TODAY.  The beeping is a 4 second beep that appears to be coming from the basement.   The timing is entirely random, sometimes more than 24 hours apart, sometimes every 30-45 minutes. The tenants swear it's on one side near the washer/dryer - both have been unplugged and they've still heard it.  To mine and my wife's ears it sounded like it was on the opposite side near the circuit breaker, furnace, and modem/router.

One of the tenants was very concerned about the possibility of it being dangerous - possibly carbon monoxide, and this morning mentioned that she would be staying in a hotel until it's resolved, so I had the fire department out today to check for carbon monoxide and they didn't find anything and they even told her pretty much what I've been saying this entire time which is - you might need to sit down in the basement until you hear it and move closer and closer to where it's coming from until you can figure it out.  The truth is, I don't think they want to do that, and are expecting me to do it.  Because the beep happens at random intervals or sometimes days apart, this seems unreasonable to me.

As a last ditch effort, I am having our electric, hvacs, and washer and dryer looked at.  All these service calls will have cost me close to $1000.  But, this is probably cheaper than also throwing in a hotel bill on top of it and I do understand their frustration so I'm willing to do that.  The only other thing I can think of is to setup microphones around the basement and see which has the loudest audio wave when I import it into garageband and narrow down the location that way.  

I guess my question is this:  Does anyone have ANY idea of what it could possibly be? OR any advice on how best to handle the situation if I am handling it incorrectly?  

Thank you!

Is there a sump pump?

Sounds like something may have dropped between the walls. Just guessing, but batteries don't last forever. 

The power box on one of my rentals has a "power conservation mode" box running off of it that beeps when it's activated. It can be heard from inside sometimes. Is the power box anywhere nearby (inside or outside)

One sure way is to test is when it starts beeping, to cut all power to the house. If it contnues beeping, it is not powered by the power box.

Maybe it's a mouse with an alarm clock?

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  • Investor · Scottsdale Austin Tuktoyaktuk · Member since 2021 · 4k+ posts · 4k+ votes
    3y
    Quote from @Chris Green:

    Hello!  My current tenants have been hearing a beeping noise for the last month and a half or so.  My first thought was to change the batteries in a fire/smoke alarm, carbon monoxide detectors, etc. - or some other electronic device.  We've removed devices, unplugged appliances, changed filters, I've had plumbers out to see the hot water heater, I've had appliance guys out to check the fridge - they haven't been able to pinpoint where the sound is coming from and everytime I've been there for 1-2 hour chunks at a time to look around for anything I haven't heard it.

    UNTIL TODAY.  The beeping is a 4 second beep that appears to be coming from the basement.   The timing is entirely random, sometimes more than 24 hours apart, sometimes every 30-45 minutes. The tenants swear it's on one side near the washer/dryer - both have been unplugged and they've still heard it.  To mine and my wife's ears it sounded like it was on the opposite side near the circuit breaker, furnace, and modem/router.

    One of the tenants was very concerned about the possibility of it being dangerous - possibly carbon monoxide, and this morning mentioned that she would be staying in a hotel until it's resolved, so I had the fire department out today to check for carbon monoxide and they didn't find anything and they even told her pretty much what I've been saying this entire time which is - you might need to sit down in the basement until you hear it and move closer and closer to where it's coming from until you can figure it out.  The truth is, I don't think they want to do that, and are expecting me to do it.  Because the beep happens at random intervals or sometimes days apart, this seems unreasonable to me.

    As a last ditch effort, I am having our electric, hvacs, and washer and dryer looked at.  All these service calls will have cost me close to $1000.  But, this is probably cheaper than also throwing in a hotel bill on top of it and I do understand their frustration so I'm willing to do that.  The only other thing I can think of is to setup microphones around the basement and see which has the loudest audio wave when I import it into garageband and narrow down the location that way.  

    I guess my question is this:  Does anyone have ANY idea of what it could possibly be? OR any advice on how best to handle the situation if I am handling it incorrectly?  

    Thank you!

    Is there a sump pump?

    Sounds like something may have dropped between the walls. Just guessing, but batteries don't last forever. 

    The power box on one of my rentals has a "power conservation mode" box running off of it that beeps when it's activated. It can be heard from inside sometimes. Is the power box anywhere nearby (inside or outside)

    One sure way is to test is when it starts beeping, to cut all power to the house. If it contnues beeping, it is not powered by the power box.

    Maybe it's a mouse with an alarm clock?

  • Rental Property Investor · Palm Springs, CA · Member since 2023 · 20 posts · 9 votes
    3y
    Quote from @Chris Green:

    Hello!  My current tenants have been hearing a beeping noise for the last month and a half or so.  My first thought was to change the batteries in a fire/smoke alarm, carbon monoxide detectors, etc. - or some other electronic device.  We've removed devices, unplugged appliances, changed filters, I've had plumbers out to see the hot water heater, I've had appliance guys out to check the fridge - they haven't been able to pinpoint where the sound is coming from and everytime I've been there for 1-2 hour chunks at a time to look around for anything I haven't heard it.

    UNTIL TODAY.  The beeping is a 4 second beep that appears to be coming from the basement.   The timing is entirely random, sometimes more than 24 hours apart, sometimes every 30-45 minutes. The tenants swear it's on one side near the washer/dryer - both have been unplugged and they've still heard it.  To mine and my wife's ears it sounded like it was on the opposite side near the circuit breaker, furnace, and modem/router.

    One of the tenants was very concerned about the possibility of it being dangerous - possibly carbon monoxide, and this morning mentioned that she would be staying in a hotel until it's resolved, so I had the fire department out today to check for carbon monoxide and they didn't find anything and they even told her pretty much what I've been saying this entire time which is - you might need to sit down in the basement until you hear it and move closer and closer to where it's coming from until you can figure it out.  The truth is, I don't think they want to do that, and are expecting me to do it.  Because the beep happens at random intervals or sometimes days apart, this seems unreasonable to me.

    As a last ditch effort, I am having our electric, hvacs, and washer and dryer looked at.  All these service calls will have cost me close to $1000.  But, this is probably cheaper than also throwing in a hotel bill on top of it and I do understand their frustration so I'm willing to do that.  The only other thing I can think of is to setup microphones around the basement and see which has the loudest audio wave when I import it into garageband and narrow down the location that way.  

    I guess my question is this:  Does anyone have ANY idea of what it could possibly be? OR any advice on how best to handle the situation if I am handling it incorrectly?  

    Thank you!

    That is very strange. Have you owned this property for very long? I was thinking perhaps a previous owner left behind some kind of device that they forgot to mention, but that would only probably be a possibility if you recently took possession from them. There’s also the chance it could be an irrigation control box that might need attention. Definitely following this thread! 
  • Real Estate Agent · The Short Term Shop / Florida Emerald and Forgotten Coasts · Member since 2022 · 217 posts · 126 votes
    3y

    How long have the renters been there? Random times on a beep sounds like one of those joke mini soundboard machines that last for years and randomly beep/meow/etc....Do they have a friend that was over that plays practical jokes?  

  • Member since 2022 · 29 posts · 26 votes
    3y

    I had a "beep" that I could not locate. Changed every battery in every smoke detector TWICE, wandered around the house for hours looking for it. Finally I got fed up and started systematically removing things from the house- walked every single smoke detector out the door and placed them in the back of my car, unplugged everything that could be unplugged. By eliminating every potential in the house I was able to narrow down my search and found an old carbon monoxide alarm that had been stuffed in the back of a closet. Hope that helps.

  • Nathan GesnerBusiness Member
    Moderator
    Real Estate Broker · Cody, WY · Member since 2010 · 28k+ posts · 41k+ votes
    3y

    If it's an electronic beep, it requires power. I would look at every electrical device, then scrub the basement nooks and crannies. I bet something is stored in a box or otherwise hidden.

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