# mechanical clicking noise **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 29, 2016, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mechanical-clicking-noise/758736 "2016-06-29T21:33:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ignatia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f17d59/32.png) [@Ignatia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ignatia)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2016, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mechanical-clicking-noise/758736/1 "2016-06-29T21:33:36Z")
I only heard this once, behind the wall in our shower, it was a rythmatic clicking noise, faster then a second and on a clock. It lasted about 5 minutes. I have never heard it before, or again. I know it was not the pipes. Any ideas?😕 ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2016, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mechanical-clicking-noise/758736/2 "2016-06-29T22:29:31Z")
mouse/rats/varments? ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2016, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mechanical-clicking-noise/758736/3 "2016-06-29T23:07:57Z")
Annyeong? Stranger ---
**Author:** ![watchwolf49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9c0ed/32.png) [@watchwolf49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watchwolf49)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2016, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mechanical-clicking-noise/758736/4 "2016-06-29T23:18:39Z")
I’m assuming you mean _inside_ the wall … and you’ve already made sure it was nothing on the other side of the wall. Framing lumber will make noise from time-to-time, but nothing like you’re describing. ---
**Author:** ![chorpler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chorpler/32/2888_2.png) [@chorpler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chorpler)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2016, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mechanical-clicking-noise/758736/5 "2016-06-30T01:14:49Z")
I’m curious, how do you know it was not the pipes? Our pipes make clicking noises as they heat up when hot water starts flowing through them, and I’ve noticed the clicks happen slower and take longer to finish when the water isn’t as hot from the water heater or when not as much water is flowing, to the point where it could take several minutes before they stop. Of course, that happens every time the pipes are cold and start heating up, so it probably wouldn’t be only once. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2016, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mechanical-clicking-noise/758736/6 "2016-06-30T01:51:50Z")
Since this demands speculation, let’s move it to IMHO. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2016, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mechanical-clicking-noise/758736/7 "2016-06-30T02:14:54Z")
If the pipe is secured by a clamp then it’s possible for it to make repeated clicks as it moves and catches on the clamp. Or a very confused wood pecker is attacking your drain vent. ---
**Author:** ![spamforbrains](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@spamforbrains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spamforbrains)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2016, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mechanical-clicking-noise/758736/8 "2016-06-30T02:23:28Z")
A bomb that malfunctioned and never went off? Have any enemies? ---
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2016, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mechanical-clicking-noise/758736/9 "2016-06-30T02:27:38Z")
Whenever I hear suspicious tapping noise related to taking showers, I start looking for places where water might be leaking. Last time it happened, I discovered a tiny gap next to the soap dish, and one of the kids had adjusted the hand-wand in its holder to spray directly in that direction. This resulted in a short “tap tap tap tap tap” that surely sounded very regular and mechanical. It would sound even more so if it were hitting a heating duct or something else metallic. ---
**Author:** ![Battle\_Pope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@Battle\_Pope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Battle_Pope)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2016, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mechanical-clicking-noise/758736/10 "2016-06-30T03:02:51Z")
[Ronald](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0071186/)? ---
**Author:** ![Me\_Billy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e480ec/32.png) [@Me\_Billy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Me_Billy)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2016, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mechanical-clicking-noise/758736/11 "2016-06-30T15:13:42Z")
Heat makes metal expand. Like hot water suddenly flowing through a cold pipe! ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2016, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mechanical-clicking-noise/758736/12 "2016-06-30T16:04:36Z")
> [@Battle\_Pope](#): > > [Ronald](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0071186/)? Wut? That’s make believe! More likely the Babadook. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2016, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mechanical-clicking-noise/758736/13 "2016-06-30T17:09:36Z")
What’s on the other side of the wall" Another interior room, or the exterior of the building?