# TV Cracking + Popping sounds

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-cracking-popping-sounds/168030>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [April 11, 2003, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-cracking-popping-sounds/168030 "2003-04-11T13:46:30Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![mjcocat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@mjcocat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mjcocat)\
**Post date:** [April 11, 2003, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-cracking-popping-sounds/168030/1 "2003-04-11T13:46:30Z")

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Ok, maybe I’m just retarded here, but I’ve experienced this phenomenon with the last three TV’s I have had. After the television is on for some time time, and random “Pop” sound is heard. It’s hard to explain, but it sounds almost as if the casing of the TV is cracking. It happens every couple of hours. Does anyone know what this is? Does anyone else hear the sounds…

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**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\
**Post date:** [April 11, 2003, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-cracking-popping-sounds/168030/2 "2003-04-11T13:57:19Z")

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Heat expanding the plastic case.

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**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\
**Post date:** [April 11, 2003, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-cracking-popping-sounds/168030/3 "2003-04-11T14:01:55Z")

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[http://www.agoraquest.com/viewtopic.php?topic=4660&forum=34](http://www.agoraquest.com/viewtopic.php?topic=4660&forum=34)

from a Sony Enthusiasts site  
(Found several others in various FAQ from TV mfgrs, all said it was from the heat expanding the plastic. Sometimes, the plastic expands slowly, and sometime the shape of the case makes it resist moving until enough heat has built up that it just pops/expands)

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**Author:** ![WillSantini](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ed8c4c/32.png) [@WillSantini](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WillSantini)\
**Post date:** [April 11, 2003, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-cracking-popping-sounds/168030/4 "2003-04-11T16:20:08Z")

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This happens to my TV also, but when it’s off.

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**Author:** ![Hauky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/0ea827/32.png) [@Hauky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hauky)\
**Post date:** [April 11, 2003, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-cracking-popping-sounds/168030/5 "2003-04-11T17:23:32Z")

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In addition, my monitor does this after it’s been turned off for a bit (after being on all day, of course). It doesn’t happen when it’s heating up, just when it’s cooling off.

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**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\
**Post date:** [April 11, 2003, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-cracking-popping-sounds/168030/6 "2003-04-11T19:44:07Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by WillSantini \*  
> \*\*This happens to my TV also, but when it’s off. \*\*

Lacking any tongue-in-cheek hints, this is still plausable as the plastic will constrict when cooling off.