# What is this strange noise coming from my television?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-strange-noise-coming-from-my-television/76001>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 13, 2001, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-strange-noise-coming-from-my-television/76001 "2001-08-13T05:39:34Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![delphica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9a140/32.png) [@delphica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/delphica)\
**Post date:** [August 13, 2001, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-strange-noise-coming-from-my-television/76001/1 "2001-08-13T05:39:34Z")

</div>

Every now and then, when my TV is turned off, it makes a noise. The only way I can think to describe is to compare it to the noise an old house sometimes makes, the kind of noise that makes you say “oh, the house is settling.”

In a plastic sort of way, it sounds as if the TV is settling. It’s a plastic, crunchy, poppy sounding noise. I asked the SO if it was possible that the TV was settling, and he rolled his eyes at me, which means he doesn’t know.

It works fine, but I figure in a TV, there’s only so much that can settle. Is this normal? Are the elves that live inside the TV just getting comfortable for the night?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Chez\_Guevara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/aeb1de/32.png) [@Chez\_Guevara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chez_Guevara)\
**Post date:** [August 13, 2001, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-strange-noise-coming-from-my-television/76001/2 "2001-08-13T05:47:51Z")

</div>

Elves live in refrigerators not televisions. Gremlins live in televisions.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![MIKE\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@MIKE\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MIKE_P)\
**Post date:** [August 13, 2001, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-strange-noise-coming-from-my-television/76001/3 "2001-08-13T06:44:57Z")

</div>

I thought I was the only one.🙂 I’m guessing it has to do with static electricity ,but I’m not sure.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![red\_dragon60](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ce73a5/32.png) [@red\_dragon60](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/red_dragon60)\
**Post date:** [August 13, 2001, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-strange-noise-coming-from-my-television/76001/4 "2001-08-13T06:57:40Z")

</div>

my WAG is that the TV gets hot, the plastic inside expands, and when it cools it contracts again. This is how most “settling” sounds are caused.