I am on the 2nd floor of a rent house I have a a decent amount of stuff on the 2nd floor maybe a tiny bit more than should have up here. Every 4 to 7 seconds it feels like a very small earth quake my feet notice it weird things you can not see anything shaking. I thought it might bed cause by one of my 2 computers I have I raised both off the flood and also turn off both for like 30min the floor is still shaking just a little. There are 3 small cracks on the ceiling blow my room could be from the weight or could be the house settling a little. The shaking is like 70% on one side of the house from the other. I think the floor shaking could be caused from something outside the house but I do not hear any running. The the shaking is like 40% to 50% worse at night. Anybody have any idea what could be causing the floor to have mini earth quakes??
02-26-2019, 12:52 AM
Location: on the wind
18,273 posts, read 11,869,906 times
Reputation: 59709
Are there other people in this house? Is it near any train tracks?
02-26-2019, 01:17 AM
7,333 posts, read 10,839,059 times
Reputation: 3811
2 other people and they stay mostly on the lower level. There is train tracks just over a mile away. House is located right next to a big power line tower that is like 120ft to 150ft and there is also a gas line that is a few feet under ground right next to the big metal tower. I will say that in the last 10 days the shaking has been 24/7 before it would happen at night for 2 to 4 hrs. the shaking it kinda annoying I need to figure out way it causing it so I can stop it.
02-26-2019, 04:33 AM
Location: KY
577 posts, read 373,955 times
Reputation: 1408
Probably no help here, but I recall MANY years ago in our first home that my wife and I would feel a slight "rumble" through the floors at around 4:00 pm Mon-Fri. I finally found out there was a huge rock quarry about 4 miles away from us.
The workers would do their deep, underground tunnel blasting at 4 :00 pm and then go home. Just so the dust would be settled better overnight, right in time for the 7:00 am shift workers to get the newly blasted rocks loaded in to their dump trucks, and drive out of the tunnels with them.
02-26-2019, 05:46 AM
12,016 posts, read 11,264,082 times
Reputation: 13420
Quote:
Originally Posted by DJboutit
I am on the 2nd floor of a rent house I have a a decent amount of stuff on the 2nd floor maybe a tiny bit more than should have up here. Every 4 to 7 seconds it feels like a very small earth quake my feet notice it weird things you can not see anything shaking. I thought it might bed cause by one of my 2 computers I have I raised both off the flood and also turn off both for like 30min the floor is still shaking just a little. There are 3 small cracks on the ceiling blow my room could be from the weight or could be the house settling a little. The shaking is like 70% on one side of the house from the other. I think the floor shaking could be caused from something outside the house but I do not hear any running. The the shaking is like 40% to 50% worse at night. Anybody have any idea what could be causing the floor to have mini earth quakes??
That doesn't sound normal at all. Are you in sinkhole country? Houses settle but you wouldn't notice it as it happens over years or decades. If you are in fracking country it may be that. There is nothing you could be doing to make your house shake. If you had soft floor and it shook a little when you walked would be the most you could do. I would call the township or ask neighbors about it.
Unless you have a massaging bed you don't know about.
02-26-2019, 10:22 AM
21,687 posts, read 64,633,937 times
Reputation: 42894
Volcanic eruption becoming imminent.
Seriously, I would construct or borrow some crude seismic monitoring equipment.
https://myshake.berkeley.edu/
02-26-2019, 10:39 AM
Location: Minnesota
2,524 posts, read 1,744,392 times
Reputation: 4769
Where do you live, city, county, state? Call the non emergency fire department phone number. They might know. Maybe the soil in your area is prone to transmitting vibrations from some industry in the area, or trains.
02-26-2019, 11:52 AM
Location: Pittsburgh
6,535 posts, read 8,712,116 times
Reputation: 9809
Graboids.
02-26-2019, 12:28 PM
7,333 posts, read 10,839,059 times
Reputation: 3811
I am in Houston Tx I am about 1 mile north of a airport I know it is not the planes causing the shaking.
02-26-2019, 02:37 PM
Location: on the wind
18,273 posts, read 11,869,906 times
Reputation: 59709
Kind of sounds like some heavy industry operation going on that is creating ground vibration. The house foundation could transmit it through the whole structure. Maybe a Google map search for industrial plants nearby? Refineries? Utility pumping plants? I'd bet vibrations would be apparent outside the house too.
Last edited by Parnassia; 02-26-2019 at 03:02 PM..
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Page 2
02-26-2019, 02:58 PM
Location: Johns Creek, GA
16,315 posts, read 60,490,631 times
Reputation: 21029
Quote:
Originally Posted by DJboutit
I am in Houston Tx I am about 1 mile north of a airport I know it is not the planes causing the shaking.
Which airport?
02-26-2019, 03:58 PM
7,333 posts, read 10,838,419 times
Reputation: 3811
Quote:
Originally Posted by K'ledgeBldr
Which airport?
Hobby I have never had a problem with the airplanes skying the house
02-26-2019, 05:17 PM
Location: KY
577 posts, read 373,955 times
Reputation: 1408
Entering the "Twilight" zone now....
I wonder just what the very remote possibility could be, that the building is sitting on formation of shelf bedrock and maybe a 12" + size water main was channeled in through the rock ?
And as the flow rate of the water surging through the pipe rises and falls as the water load demand changes, the water pipe "could" transmit seismic vibrations through the rock, in to the building foundation ? Possible ?? Even IF its so, the vibrations would be very low level.
02-26-2019, 08:47 PM
Location: New Orleans, LA
1,797 posts, read 3,682,278 times
Reputation: 3193
I am no expert on any of this. That said, what you are describing would scare me to death. To be totally honest, if it was me, I'd move immediately, like, tomorrow.
Probably you are braver than me and it will turn out to be nothing. I hope you can figure out what it is. Maybe your landlord knows? What do the other people living in the house think?
02-26-2019, 09:38 PM
6,038 posts, read 2,219,245 times
Reputation: 4683
Is the house about to be swallowed up inside of a sinkhole?
02-26-2019, 10:51 PM
7,333 posts, read 10,838,419 times
Reputation: 3811
First floor you can not even feel it. I am pretty sure it is not the start of a sinkhole there are no sinkholes in the area. Today the shaking has only started in like the last 5omin, it rained on and off for like 5 1/2 hrs today. So what ever is causing the shaking it was started up after the rain ended. Could it be caused by grow house running equipment 2 or 3 younger males rented a big house about 70 ft 80 yards away they have covered all there windows. Slight chance they could be running a grow operation.
02-27-2019, 05:49 AM
Location: Texas
3,576 posts, read 1,853,377 times
Reputation: 4110
I would move that would scare the heck out of me.
02-27-2019, 06:12 AM
4,789 posts, read 5,062,986 times
Reputation: 6475
You mentioned a concern about the amount of weight in the room. Just curious - How much do you have in the room that would cause you to think about that? I know when I was storing boxes of books I made sure I spread them out and put them along walls. If I saw ceiling cracking in a room below where I had enough weight that I considered 'heavy' I would reduce the load immediately.
02-27-2019, 06:20 AM
7,597 posts, read 8,926,698 times
Reputation: 20619
New house? Old house? Sounds like the second story is not happy with the weight and is suffering under the load. Sort of like too much weight piled on a Christmas tree, and then it collapses. Straight down sort of thing--not tumbles over. Have you added and added new weight? Sounds like the structure is compromised and ready to go down...trembling under the load. Compressed on itself, until it collapses. Not to be alarming, but I would be concerned.
Unweight it...take heavy stuff out if you can and see if that helps. Start with books and other solid, heavy objects.
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Page 3
02-27-2019, 06:24 AM
6,806 posts, read 3,218,471 times
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I would call the person that owns the home. Let him look into it.
02-27-2019, 10:29 AM
16,196 posts, read 23,535,250 times
Reputation: 26903
Quote:
Originally Posted by DJboutit
I am on the 2nd floor of a rent house I have a a decent amount of stuff on the 2nd floor maybe a tiny bit more than should have up here. Every 4 to 7 seconds it feels like a very small earth quake my feet notice it weird things you can not see anything shaking. I thought it might bed cause by one of my 2 computers I have I raised both off the flood and also turn off both for like 30min the floor is still shaking just a little. There are 3 small cracks on the ceiling blow my room could be from the weight or could be the house settling a little. The shaking is like 70% on one side of the house from the other. I think the floor shaking could be caused from something outside the house but I do not hear any running. The the shaking is like 40% to 50% worse at night. Anybody have any idea what could be causing the floor to have mini earth quakes??
You should call the City Engineer and also your LL. It sounds to me like the floor joists, or the floor itself is compromised somehow. IMO It also sounds like you are in a home that it is unsafe....at least until you have a professional check it out.
I found this example....not knowing your location....Please research your local area. It looks helpful.Rental Housing Inspection Program
02-27-2019, 11:39 AM
Location: NJ
21,335 posts, read 29,036,668 times
Reputation: 25128
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ted Bear
New house? Old house?
Sounds like the second story is not happy with the weight and is suffering under the load. Sort of like too much weight piled on a Christmas tree, and then it collapses. Straight down sort of thing--not tumbles over.
Have you added and added new weight? Sounds like the structure is compromised and ready to go down...trembling under the load. Compressed on itself, until it collapses. Not to be alarming, but I would be concerned.
Unweight it...take heavy stuff out if you can and see if that helps. Start with books and other solid, heavy objects.
Talk about scary! Hopefully the OP comes back and sees your post. It makes the most sense
02-27-2019, 11:53 AM
Location: KY
577 posts, read 374,082 times
Reputation: 1408
With the OP being a renter/tenant, he or she needs to file the complaints of the building vibrations to their buildings property owner FIRST. I have never met a landlord that took well to their tenant, getting the city authorities called to one of their properties BEFORE they were notified. The property owner has the full rights to try to find and solve all issues with their properties, first. Once they do so and the owner still cannot satisfy the tenants complaints, then the AHJ should be called by the complaining tenant. And if and when this happens, the tenant may do well to start searching for a new abode.
JMO
02-27-2019, 12:31 PM
7,333 posts, read 10,839,059 times
Reputation: 3811
Quote:
Originally Posted by MidValleyDad
You mentioned a concern about the amount of weight in the room. Just curious - How much do you have in the room that would cause you to think about that? I know when I was storing boxes of books I made sure I spread them out and put them along walls. If I saw ceiling cracking in a room below where I had enough weight that I considered 'heavy' I would reduce the load immediately.
I had a decent amount of vinyl records on the 2nd floor I moved a good amount to the lower level I think I had to much weight in on area so I spread the weight out more. The house was built in like 1964 to 1966. Most of yesterday and today so far there was been no shaking at all.
02-27-2019, 12:53 PM
35,597 posts, read 41,710,021 times
Reputation: 52227
Quote:
Originally Posted by DJboutit
I had a decent amount of vinyl records on the 2nd floor I moved a good amount to the lower level I think I had to much weight in on area so I spread the weight out more. The house was built in like 1964 to 1966. Most of yesterday and today so far there was been no shaking at all.
Ummm... what’s a “ decent amount”??
02-27-2019, 01:42 PM
2,326 posts, read 991,574 times
Reputation: 2220
Does the house shake more when it is windy?
02-27-2019, 02:28 PM
7,333 posts, read 10,839,059 times
Reputation: 3811
House does creek a little in when it is windy. I moved like 125 lbs to the lower level.
02-28-2019, 10:57 AM
1,623 posts, read 950,903 times
Reputation: 3225
Fracking? A sinkhole? You're renting so you need to start looking for another house to rent. I would be scared to live there with the floor shaking like that.
02-28-2019, 11:43 AM
Location: Southwest Washington State
30,585 posts, read 22,225,376 times
Reputation: 50618
I think I’d move. Honestly.
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Page 4
02-28-2019, 12:02 PM
6,824 posts, read 3,241,577 times
Reputation: 15866
Quote:
Originally Posted by greglovesoldtrucks
With the OP being a renter/tenant, he or she needs to file the complaints of the building vibrations to their buildings property owner FIRST. I have never met a landlord that took well to their tenant, getting the city authorities called to one of their properties BEFORE they were notified. The property owner has the full rights to try to find and solve all issues with their properties, first. Once they do so and the owner still cannot satisfy the tenants complaints, then the AHJ should be called by the complaining tenant. And if and when this happens, the tenant may do well to start searching for a new abode.
JMO
This is the best advice.
02-28-2019, 12:25 PM
7,335 posts, read 10,846,640 times
Reputation: 3821
Now I am thinking it is nothing I have been sitting a lot lately and I put my hand on the ceiling right below where I feel the shaking no shaking.
02-28-2019, 12:39 PM
917 posts, read 3,284,723 times
Reputation: 985
Quote:
Originally Posted by DJboutit
Now I am thinking it is nothing I have been sitting a lot lately and I put my hand on the ceiling right below where I feel the shaking no shaking.
Do you ever feel the shaking when you are not in the house? I spent several weeks feeling like my home office floor was vibrating. Then I was a job interview (sitting still, not actively moving), and low and behold, the floor was vibrating at their office too. So either my Spidy sense was kicking in or, as it turned out, I developed a slight peripheral nephropathy in my foot. It became more consistent over time, but initially, I could only feel it if I was sitting quietly in a specific position.
Neurological stuff can be really strange. You can feel like water is dripping on you when its not, like things are moving when they are not and even smell things that aren't there.
02-28-2019, 12:56 PM
917 posts, read 3,284,723 times
Reputation: 985
Quote:
Originally Posted by DJboutit
Hobby I have never had a problem with the airplanes skying the house
Having lived next to a runway at O'Hare, I can say that you know when planes rattle your house. They don't shake it like an earthquake. Its possible to get cracked windows and every few weeks you need to reposition items on shelves.
You always hear the plane very loudly when its shaking your house. The sound waves are the culprit.
02-28-2019, 02:07 PM
Location: Anchorage
1,362 posts, read 951,451 times
Reputation: 3692
Any road construction or other groundwork nearby? When they lay down the road base or backfill an excavation they will vibrate it to pack it down. Those vibrations can be felt a good ways away. I'd also pay attention to the wind. Could be related to that.
As for the shaking being caused by overloading a floor, you might get that for a few seconds before the whole thing collapses. Failing floor joists are not going to vibrate for days, or even hours, before failing completely.
02-28-2019, 02:33 PM
7,335 posts, read 10,846,640 times
Reputation: 3821
Quote:
Originally Posted by TheWayISeeThings
Do you ever feel the shaking when you are not in the house? I spent several weeks feeling like my home office floor was vibrating. Then I was a job interview (sitting still, not actively moving), and low and behold, the floor was vibrating at their office too. So either my Spidy sense was kicking in or, as it turned out, I developed a slight peripheral nephropathy in my foot. It became more consistent over time, but initially, I could only feel it if I was sitting quietly in a specific position.
Neurological stuff can be really strange. You can feel like water is dripping on you when its not, like things are moving when they are not and even smell things that aren't there.
I think might be having the same problem I need to be walking more it only seems to happen when I have been sitting for for 2 to 3 hrs. After I have been standing for for like 45 seconds to 1 min then the shaking goes away.
03-01-2019, 04:51 AM
2,341 posts, read 999,197 times
Reputation: 2234
Put a glass of water on a table and watch it to see if the surface is vibrating next time you feel it?
03-01-2019, 09:21 PM
7,335 posts, read 10,846,640 times
Reputation: 3821
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ken_N
Put a glass of water on a table and watch it to see if the surface is vibrating next time you feel it?
On the top of my computer desk noting shakes not even a empty soda can.
03-02-2019, 04:57 AM
2,341 posts, read 999,197 times
Reputation: 2234
The surface of the water will be very sensitive to any vibration, watch the water surface not the whole can or glass. You mention an empty can but it is the liquid surface that will move/vibrate.
03-02-2019, 06:23 AM
Location: Johns Creek, GA
16,343 posts, read 60,565,425 times
Reputation: 21097
I believe it's been narrowed down to a medical condition; not an environmental condition.
Quote:
Originally Posted by DJboutit
I think might be having the same problem I need to be walking more it only seems to happen when I have been sitting for for 2 to 3 hrs. After I have been standing for for like 45 seconds to 1 min then the shaking goes away.
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Page 5
03-02-2019, 08:33 AM
2,326 posts, read 992,521 times
Reputation: 2220
I was suggesting the water glass so he could prove to himself that the building is not shaking at all.
03-02-2019, 12:04 PM
3,158 posts, read 4,278,465 times
Reputation: 4883
Quote:
Originally Posted by DJboutit
I am on the 2nd floor of a rent house I have a a decent amount of stuff on the 2nd floor maybe a tiny bit more than should have up here. Every 4 to 7 seconds it feels like a very small earth quake my feet notice it weird things you can not see anything shaking. I thought it might bed cause by one of my 2 computers I have I raised both off the flood and also turn off both for like 30min the floor is still shaking just a little. There are 3 small cracks on the ceiling blow my room could be from the weight or could be the house settling a little. The shaking is like 70% on one side of the house from the other. I think the floor shaking could be caused from something outside the house but I do not hear any running. The the shaking is like 40% to 50% worse at night. Anybody have any idea what could be causing the floor to have mini earth quakes??
Notified your landlord (ASP) or like yesterday! Might need engineer to look into this, I be worried the place would collapse!
03-02-2019, 01:13 PM
Location: Venus
5,790 posts, read 4,630,227 times
Reputation: 10425
My house shakes all the time due to the road outside. Trucks go by and the entire house shakes. The problem is that it is leaving cracks in my walls.
Cat
03-02-2019, 02:26 PM
Location: Johns Creek, GA
16,319 posts, read 60,510,830 times
Reputation: 21040
Quote:
Originally Posted by WildCard~
Notified your landlord (ASP) or like yesterday! Might need engineer to look into this, I be worried the place would collapse!
Landlord? For what? Medical insurance? Engineer? More like doctor!
Because of leg tremors? Hardly!
03-04-2019, 02:12 PM
3,158 posts, read 4,278,465 times
Reputation: 4883
Quote:
Originally Posted by K'ledgeBldr
Landlord? For what? Medical insurance? Engineer? More like doctor!
Because of leg tremors? Hardly!
My reply was to DJboutit! He was asking about his dwelling, not his health! At that point I would refer him to a doctor, since I'm not a doctor!.. Tremors in a body can indicate many things, and some bad things at that, one should have it checked by a REAL doctor, not take advice from a stranger on a forum! .. GoodDay!
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Page 6
02-26-2019, 02:58 PM
Location: Johns Creek, GA
16,315 posts, read 60,490,631 times
Reputation: 21029
Quote:
Originally Posted by DJboutit
I am in Houston Tx I am about 1 mile north of a airport I know it is not the planes causing the shaking.
Which airport?
02-26-2019, 03:58 PM
7,333 posts, read 10,838,419 times
Reputation: 3811
Quote:
Originally Posted by K'ledgeBldr
Which airport?
Hobby I have never had a problem with the airplanes skying the house
02-26-2019, 05:17 PM
Location: KY
577 posts, read 373,955 times
Reputation: 1408
Entering the "Twilight" zone now....
I wonder just what the very remote possibility could be, that the building is sitting on formation of shelf bedrock and maybe a 12" + size water main was channeled in through the rock ?
And as the flow rate of the water surging through the pipe rises and falls as the water load demand changes, the water pipe "could" transmit seismic vibrations through the rock, in to the building foundation ? Possible ?? Even IF its so, the vibrations would be very low level.
02-26-2019, 08:47 PM
Location: New Orleans, LA
1,797 posts, read 3,682,278 times
Reputation: 3193
I am no expert on any of this. That said, what you are describing would scare me to death. To be totally honest, if it was me, I'd move immediately, like, tomorrow.
Probably you are braver than me and it will turn out to be nothing. I hope you can figure out what it is. Maybe your landlord knows? What do the other people living in the house think?
02-26-2019, 09:38 PM
6,038 posts, read 2,219,245 times
Reputation: 4683
Is the house about to be swallowed up inside of a sinkhole?
02-26-2019, 10:51 PM
7,333 posts, read 10,838,419 times
Reputation: 3811
First floor you can not even feel it. I am pretty sure it is not the start of a sinkhole there are no sinkholes in the area. Today the shaking has only started in like the last 5omin, it rained on and off for like 5 1/2 hrs today. So what ever is causing the shaking it was started up after the rain ended. Could it be caused by grow house running equipment 2 or 3 younger males rented a big house about 70 ft 80 yards away they have covered all there windows. Slight chance they could be running a grow operation.
02-27-2019, 05:49 AM
Location: Texas
3,576 posts, read 1,853,377 times
Reputation: 4110
I would move that would scare the heck out of me.
02-27-2019, 06:12 AM
4,789 posts, read 5,062,986 times
Reputation: 6475
You mentioned a concern about the amount of weight in the room. Just curious - How much do you have in the room that would cause you to think about that? I know when I was storing boxes of books I made sure I spread them out and put them along walls. If I saw ceiling cracking in a room below where I had enough weight that I considered 'heavy' I would reduce the load immediately.
02-27-2019, 06:20 AM
7,597 posts, read 8,926,698 times
Reputation: 20619
New house? Old house? Sounds like the second story is not happy with the weight and is suffering under the load. Sort of like too much weight piled on a Christmas tree, and then it collapses. Straight down sort of thing--not tumbles over. Have you added and added new weight? Sounds like the structure is compromised and ready to go down...trembling under the load. Compressed on itself, until it collapses. Not to be alarming, but I would be concerned.
Unweight it...take heavy stuff out if you can and see if that helps. Start with books and other solid, heavy objects.
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