Your furniture that randomly makes noises can be worrisome, which is why it’s important to know how to address and possibly fix the problem at its root. Whether you’re concerned about the condition of your new sofa or you’re afraid of the random noises, this article will help calm you down.
Here are 7 reasons why your furniture makes random noises:
- There is friction between two components.
- The temperature has changed.
- The humidity has changed.
- Insects have infiltrated your furniture.
- A component is not properly fastened.
- Your house is still settling.
- Your furniture is becoming less durable.
In the following sections, I will guide you through each of the causes that can lead to your furniture making noises, how to recognize them, and if possible, how to fix them.
Contents
1. There is friction between two components
One of the most common reasons why your furniture randomly starts cracking or squeaking is due to friction between two or more of its components. This is especially true when different materials are involved, which react differently to changing environmental factors.
In this case, the generated noise is more distinct and easier to recognize. Due to differences in density and texture, the process can produce higher frequencies.
For this reason, the sound coming from your furniture is usually caused by two different materials rubbing against each other. Contrary to what you might think, this often doesn’t require external physical pressure. The slightest change in temperature or humidity can cause the components of your furniture to change their size and position and come into contact with each other.
If there are also a variety of mechanisms and parts connected within the same object, there are bound to be one or two occasional slips that can generate the cracking or rubbing sound you hear.
If this is the issue you’re dealing with, you probably don’t need to worry too much.
Most of these problems are common and don’t require additional attention, as they have a way of resolving themselves. However, if the noise persists for a long time and the sound you hear seems to be a part that may have loosened or completely repositioned itself, the situation may warrant a closer look.
2. The temperature has changed
An extreme and sudden change in temperature is usually the most common environmental factor that affects the condition and physical properties of your furniture.
The resulting changes are often so subtle that you may not notice them. However, when it comes to a delicate device like your furniture, even the slightest expansion or contraction of the material can compromise its structural integrity.
Excessive heat can be particularly damaging to wood and other commonly used materials in furniture, which is why you want to keep your living space cool and dry in all seasons.
When temperatures rise, the materials undergo a process called “thermal expansion.” This can happen from both natural and artificial heat sources, so you should be careful when setting your temperature controls.
What happens is that your pieces’ volume increases as the material expands in size and shape with the temperature. As you can imagine, this process can strain their structure and exert excessive pressure, impairing their ability to function properly.
For this reason, thermal expansion often stresses the components and fasteners of your furniture, which in turn leads to a variety of creaking, squeaking, and other worrisome noises. Although this phenomenon affects almost all types of materials, wood is particularly sensitive.
So, if you’ve opted for a more rustic aesthetic for your living space, this is the first problem you should look into if you hear an unusual noise coming from your furniture.
Remember that thermal expansion affects not only your furniture but also the overall structure of your house. Therefore, it’s important to locate the source of the concerning noise before proceeding with troubleshooting.
3. The humidity levels have changed
Temperature is not the only environmental factor that can cause unsettling noises to come from your furniture. Humidity can also significantly affect certain materials and result in noticeable changes in size and shape that can compromise the structural integrity of your furniture.
As you can imagine, wood and wood-based materials are particularly vulnerable to moisture, as they tend to swell and deform in high humidity environments, inevitably exerting excessive pressure on the furniture they are composed of.
This additional stress would, in turn, cause the furniture to creak and crack.
This phenomenon occurs even more frequently if you’ve opted for pieces made of raw wood. So, if you don’t want to give up the rustic aesthetic, at least look for a varnished wood variant, which is usually better protected from weathering by an additional coating.
As I briefly mentioned, high humidity not only causes wood to expand but also causes it to warp and change its shape. If you live in a normally very humid climate, it’s a good idea to invest in a dehumidifier for this reason.
Otherwise, your furniture will quickly warp and go out of shape.
As expected, this type of change and structural pressure would inevitably lead your furniture to generate a variety of noises that you may be currently struggling with.
High humidity can also cause problems like mold or rot in organic materials like wood. These problems significantly impact its longevity and durability, deterioration of which can independently lead to certain creaks.
4. Insects have infiltrated your furniture
Speaking of organic material, one thing you might want to be aware of is the infiltration of insects and pests. Sometimes you might hear a specific buzzing or humming sound that you’re sure cannot be generated by an inanimate object, leading you to often fear that it’s related to some kind of paranormal activity.
The good news is that there’s nothing to fear.
The bad news, however, is that depending on the insect you’re dealing with, you may need to take some drastic, often costly measures to eliminate the unwanted noise.
Termites, woodworms, and other larvae are among the most common culprits you may find in your wooden furniture. Although a 1mm (0.04in) large woodworm hiding in your chair may not seem like a cause for concern to some, insect infiltrations should be taken very seriously and treated accordingly once discovered.
Otherwise, the situation can deteriorate faster than you think.
These types of insects and pests not only multiply at alarming rates (meaning you could harbor a whole colony in no time), but they can also significantly compromise the durability and longevity of your furniture much more than you’d think.
Given that they carve their way into and through your wooden pieces, it’s only a matter of time until they give way enough to create a spot of structural weakness, potentially causing the whole thing to fall apart.
For this reason, once you notice an insect-like sound coming from your furniture, it’s crucial to initiate a fumigation process. If you’re confident in your skills and the tools you have access to, you can try extermination yourself by following this handy guide.
Otherwise, don’t hesitate to call a professional for help.
5. A component is not properly fastened
Furniture that relies on fastened components is often one of the worst culprits when it comes to noise production.
The reason for this is that any fasteners are bound to loosen or come undone with frequent use, resulting in a constant squeak and creak that occurs even with the slightest movement.
Fortunately, this is one of the easiest problems to fix on this list, as it usually doesn’t require much technical skill or time. All you need to do is examine the attachment points of the furniture to identify the ones that may be causing the unwanted noises.
After that, all you have to do is re-fasten them and consider adding additional support if possible. This can include any external component that could prevent future loosening or slipping.
6. Your house is still settling
If none of the previously mentioned problems seem to match the sound profile you’re hearing, the actual issue is likely simpler than you think. When we notice a potential problem that could affect our furniture, we often tend to overthink the troubleshooting process and immediately jump to the worst-case conclusion.
However, there’s a chance that what you hear could simply be what homeowners refer to as “settling noises.” These noises consist of soft pops and cracks that are inevitable throughout your living experience in your home.
The structure of a house is heavy, and its sheer mass can put significant stress on individual components. Additionally, the weight of the construction can also cause the ground under it to compress, leading to minor shifts and adjustments that you can’t see but may be able to hear.
Therefore, it may not even be your furniture that is the source of this odd clicking noise, but rather your house itself settling in its weight. The extent of this phenomenon can vary greatly depending on environmental factors.
Nevertheless, you should always consider it when investigating unusual noises in your living space.
7. Your furniture is becoming less durable
The reason why your furniture starts producing unusual noises doesn’t always have to be complex or hard to fix, as sometimes your furniture is simply getting old. With frequent use, your furniture inevitably loses some of its previous strength and durability, leading to weak spots that creak and crack under pressure.
There are a variety of factors that can influence the longevity of your pieces, apart from the frequency of use, with quality and material being the most important. These factors will determine whether your furniture can ever return to its previous state and if so, how much effort you’ll have to put in.
If in doubt, always err on the side of caution and call a local handyman for a professional opinion tailored more specifically to your situation.
Sources
- Quora: Why do furniture make cracking sound?
- Furniture in Shell and Overflow: How Hot Weather Affects Your Furniture
- Science Direct: Thermal expansion – An overview
- Engineering Toolbox: Thermal expansion – Linear expansion coefficients
- SF Gate: How to fumigate a couch
- University of Maryland Extension: Identifying Common Household Insect Pests