Furniture improves the beauty, comfort, and overall look of homes, offices, and several other places. Furniture can make strange noises at night, from creaking cabinets to rattling closets.
These noises can be unsettling, especially in the dark, quiet hours of the night when your mind is more susceptible to making up stories about what might be causing the sounds. Whether you’re dealing with creaking cabinets, rattling closets, or squeaky chairs and tables, this article will highlight all the noises and their causes.
Why Does Furniture Make Noises At Night?
Furniture creaks because of the movement and friction between the wood or other materials used in its construction. Several factors can cause friction. As the furniture is used and weight is applied, the joints and connections between the different pieces of wood can become loose or worn. This can cause the wood to rub against each other, creating a creaking sound.
In some cases, the creaking can be caused by the furniture made from different types of wood that expand and contract at different rates. Additionally, changes in humidity and temperature can cause the wood to expand and contract, which can also contribute to creaking. Let’s look at some of the major causes of noise in furniture at night or during the day.
Temperature ChangesFurniture can make noise or creak as a result of temperature changes because the materials that make up the furniture expand and contract with changes in temperature and humidity. Wood is particularly susceptible to this type of movement because it is a natural material composed of cells that absorb and release moisture.
When the temperature and humidity levels in a room change, the wood will absorb or release moisture, causing it to expand or contract. This movement can cause joints and connections in the furniture to become loose, resulting in noise or creaking.
Additionally, as the furniture expands or contracts, it can cause the wood fibres to rub against each other, creating a squeaking or creaking sound.
1. Change in Humidity Levels
Furniture can make noise or creak when the humidity levels in the room change because wood expands and contracts as it absorbs or releases moisture. When the air is dry, wood will release moisture and shrink, which can cause joints to loosen and create creaking noises. Conversely, when the air is more humid, wood will absorb moisture and expand, which can cause joints to become tighter and create different types of noises.
Changes in humidity can also cause the glue holding the joints together to weaken, contributing to creaking or noise. It is important to note that not all furniture will make noise due to humidity changes, as some types of wood or furniture construction methods may be more resistant to these changes.
2. Differing Materials
Different materials used in furniture construction can lead to furniture noises or creaking for various reasons. One of the main factors is the flexibility of the materials. Harder, more rigid materials such as metal or plastic may be less likely to make noise, while softer, more flexible materials such as wood may be more prone to making noise.
This is because harder materials are less likely to flex or bend, while softer materials may bend or flex more easily, which can cause joints or connections to make noise.
Another factor is the quality of the materials. Higher-quality materials will be less likely to wear down or degrade over time, which can lead to less noise or creaking. Lower-quality materials may wear down or degrade more quickly, which can cause joints or connections to become loose and make noise.
3. Friction Between Components
Friction between components in furniture can lead to noise or creaking in a few ways. One way is through wear and tear on the components. As parts of the furniture rub against each other, they can become worn down and create more friction, leading to noise or creaking.
As the furniture expands and contracts, the components may rub against each other more, leading to increased friction and noise or creaking. Additionally, If the furniture is not assembled properly, loose or ill-fitting parts can also create friction when they move or shift, causing noise or creaking.
4. Old Furniture
Old furniture can lead to noise or creaking in a few different ways. One way is through general wear and tear on the components. As furniture ages, the joints and moving parts can become loose or worn out, creating more friction when moving or shifting. This increased friction can lead to noise or creaking.
Old furniture can lead to noise or creaking through the expansion and contraction of the materials used in the furniture. As wood ages, it can become more susceptible to changes in temperature and humidity, which can cause it to expand and contract. This expansion and contraction can stress the joints and moving parts of the furniture, leading to increased friction and noise or creaking.
Also, old furniture that has not been properly maintained can lead to noise or creaking. Dust, dirt, and debris can accumulate in the joints and moving parts of the furniture, creating friction and leading to noise or creaking.
5. Shift In The Equilibrium of the Furniture
When furniture is in equilibrium, it is in a state of balance and does not move or make noise. However, if the equilibrium of the furniture is shifted, it can cause the furniture to move or make noise. This can happen due to several reasons, such as changes in temperature or humidity, uneven weight distribution, or the furniture being bumped or knocked.
One common example of a shift in equilibrium causing noise in furniture is wooden chairs. Wooden chairs can make creaking or groaning noises if the joints or connections between the different parts of the chair are loose or not properly tightened. When a person sits on a chair, their weight shifts the equilibrium of the chair and causes the joints or connections to rub against each other, which creates noise.
To prevent noise caused by a shift in equilibrium, it is important to keep furniture properly maintained and adjusted. This can include tightening loose joints or connections and using felt pads or coasters to protect furniture from rubbing against the floor.
What Makes Cabinets Make Noises?
Cabinets can creak and make noises for a variety of reasons. Some common causes include loose or ill-fitting doors. If the cabinet doors are not properly secured or adjusted, they can move slightly when opened or closed, causing creaking or rattling noises.
Wood expansion and contraction due to changes in humidity or temperature can cause the joints or connections between the different parts of the cabinet to rub against each other, creating creaking or groaning noises. Loose hardware such as screws, nails or other fasteners that secure the cabinet to the wall can become loose over time, causing the cabinet to move slightly and make a noise when it is opened or closed.
Worn-out or damaged hinges can cause your cabinet to become loose, or they may become damaged, which can cause the doors to rub against the cabinet frame, creating noise. Unleveled or uneven surfaces may cause your cabinet to creak or make noise and can cause the cabinet to rock or move slightly, creating squeaking sounds.
Fixing these issues might require tightening the screws, nails or other fasteners, adjusting the doors, replacing worn or damaged hinges, or levelling the cabinet or surface. A professional carpenter or handyman can do this.
What Makes Closets Make Noises?
Closets can creak and make noises for a variety of reasons. One common cause is a lack of lubrication on the hinges and sliding tracks, which can cause the metal to rub against itself and create a creaking sound. Another cause can be loose or shifting parts, such as a loose door or a shifting rod or shelf.
Additionally, if the closet is not level or securely attached to the wall, it can cause the entire structure to shift and make noise.
What Makes Chairs Make Noises?
Chairs can make noises for several reasons. One common cause is the wear and tear of the joints and connections in the chair. Over time, these joints can become loose or worn, which can cause the chair to creak or make other noises when used. Another possible cause is the type of material the chair is made from.
The type of chair can also affect the likelihood of creaking or making noise, as wooden chairs may be more likely to creak than metal or plastic ones. Additionally, if a chair is not properly maintained and cleaned, dirt and debris can build up in the joints and connections, which can cause the chair to creak or make noise.
What Makes Tables Make Noises?
Tables can make noises for a variety of reasons. Common causes of table noise include loose screws or bolts, which cause noise as the table is moved or bumped. Also, if the table’s legs are not securely attached or are uneven, the table can wobble and make noise.
Surface imperfections are another cause of table noise. If the table’s surface is not smooth, it can make noise as objects move on it or people walk on it. Also, materials determine the noise level. Hardwood tables tend to make less noise than softwood or engineered wood tables.
Furniture glide can also cause your table to make noise. If your table is placed on a hardwood floor and doesn’t have furniture glide, it can make noise as you move it. Environmental factors such as humidity and temperature can cause wood to expand or contract, which can cause tables to make noise.
It is important to identify and address the cause of the noise to prevent damage to the table or injury to those using it.
How To Prevent And Stop Furniture from Making Noise?
There are several ways to stop furniture from making noise. Use furniture pads or felt pads which are small adhesive pads that can be placed on the bottom of a chair and table legs to prevent them from scratching the floor and making noise. Also, placing a rug or carpet under the furniture can help to dampen noise and prevent scratches on the floor.
Furniture can make noise if the joints are loose. Tightening the joints can help reduce or eliminate the noise. If you have chairs that slide around on a hardwood or tile floor, you can use door stoppers to keep them in place and prevent them from moving and making noise. Applying silicone spray to the moving parts of furniture can help to lubricate them and reduce noise.
Sometimes the noise can be caused by the furniture being on an uneven surface. Moving the furniture to a level surface can help to eliminate the noise. If the noise comes from furniture rubbing against each other, you may consider rearranging them to see if it helps.
Use furniture polish or wax on wood surfaces. This will lubricate the wood and reduce friction, making the furniture less likely to squeak. Use a noise-absorbing material such as cork or foam on the walls or ceiling of the room. This will help to dampen sound and reduce the echo in the room.
Be mindful of the location of the furniture. Try to keep it away from windows or doors that may cause drafts and from heating or cooling vents. Consider adding soundproofing material to your room. This can be added to walls, floors, and ceilings to help absorb sound and reduce noise transmission.
Conclusion
Noise from furniture can be disturbing and highly discomforting over time, but worry no more as this article has highlighted the causes of these noises and how to stop them. This will give you the peace of mind that gets distorted by furniture noises.
I am Inemesit Etim and I am honest, reliable, confident, and responsible in my work. I am a highly talented, detail-oriented creative content writer with 3+ years of experience writing helpful content that gives value to readers like you. My articles are a product of intense research, both from personal experiences and from reading through the experiences of others. I love home improvement and I am glad I can help you improve the quality of your home and living experience.