Ceiling joists making loud cracking sounds above stove

[lopisided]

I've been burning wood in my Lopi Revere insert for 15 years and I've noticed that the ceiling joists above the stove (in my living room) make a loud cracking sound when the stove is burning. It seems to start after about an hour (I let the stove burn up to 800+ degrees at first) and will happen two or three times per burn. It really is quite loud and I'm worried that the joists are compromised and some night our bed on the 2nd floor (and us in it) will wind up in the living room on the 1st floor.

Is this something I need to be concerned with? Any suggestions as to what to do?

Thanks,
Ted

 

[DougA]

Our house does that on really cold nights and it has nothing to do with our stove. The wood is contracting/expanding with the cold/heat and since we have hundreds of 2x12x16', it does make a very loud bang. The house is still standing after 30 yr. with zero cracks in the ceiling.

In your case, you may have inadequate insulation and the heat/cold cycles are more pronounced. I would put a thermometer in the ceiling area and the attic just to make sure that the temps are not getting higher than expected.

 

[bholler]

Doesnt sound good at all id have a contractor check it out

 

[lopisided]

Our house does that on really cold nights and it has nothing to do with our stove. The wood is contracting/expanding with the cold/heat and since we have hundreds of 2x12x16', it does make a very loud bang. The house is still standing after 30 yr. with zero cracks in the ceiling.

In your case, you may have inadequate insulation and the heat/cold cycles are more pronounced. I would put a thermometer in the ceiling area and the attic just to make sure that the temps are not getting higher than expected.

Thanks for the fast reply, Doug.

I forgot to mention that my house is 60 years old, so any natural expansion of the wood is pretty much done. I never hear the joists make this sound any other time than when the stove is burning.

The joists in question are above the living room ceiling and under the bedroom floor on the 2nd floor. I doubt whether the temperature is affected much in the attic as I have 14 inches of blown-in insulation. I never hear the joists above the bedroom crack, only the joists above the living room, where the stove is.

The good thing is that I don't see any cracks in the ceiling, and the wood flooring in the bedroom are OK. I just worry about the integrity of the joists.

 

[lopisided]

Doesnt sound good at all id have a contractor check it out

Thanks. I might do that but would rather see if anyone has suggestions before letting a contractor tear into my ceiling.

 

[bholler]

It could be nothing but if it was me id open up the ceiling to see whats going on

 

[F4jock]

It could be nothing but if it was me id open up the ceiling to see whats going on

Hell yeah! Rather that than have the ceiling come down on my head or finding myself and my bed on top of the stove. Curious but I'd be scared enough to look into it sooner than later. Also might consider baffling the heat away from the area or using a fan to dissapate it.

 

[DougA]

I forgot to mention that my house is 60 years old, so any natural expansion of the wood is pretty much done.

As I posted, my house is now 30 yrs old and it still does this, although less than it used to. It sounds like someone with a sledgehammer over your head. The contractor that built mine made the mistake of using high quality KD (kiln dried) lumber and he regretted paying the extra for KD.

Yes, get your thermometer and see what the temps are and then you can decide what to do.

 

[Jo191145]

Has this been happening for 15 years or just recently?

I ask because wood in close proximity to heat usually will shrink crack and pop more than usual. Shouldn't last more than one or two years before it settles down though.

My post and beam sounded like popcorn for the first two heating seasons. Nothing know except the outside decks will pop when it gets extremely cold outside.

 

[BrotherBart]

I would head for an auto parts store, or in my case for the garage, and get an engine stethoscope and use it to pin down where in that floor the sound is coming from. I have the same setup and the stove has been burning right under my bed upstairs for 30 years. No sounds but I have had visions of falling into the family room in flames before.

 

[edyit]

When I installed our stove I put Durarock over it for a heat deflection / shield. Granted yours is installed in your living room not your basement like mine, but maybe some kind of heat buffer is needed?

 

[begreen]

Our 90 yr old house creaks above the stove when the stove warms the ceiling up too. It is not loud enough to hear from another room, but noticeable if you are near the stove. Been doing it for years with no cracks in the ceiling. Considering there are 36' long ceiling joists I don't think the 2nd floor room is going anywhere. If I ever reach 90 I will probably creak just as much.

 

[lopisided]

As I posted, my house is now 30 yrs old and it still does this, although less than it used to. It sounds like someone with a sledgehammer over your head. The contractor that built mine made the mistake of using high quality KD (kiln dried) lumber and he regretted paying the extra for KD.

Yes, get your thermometer and see what the temps are and then you can decide what to do.

Yeah, that's pretty much how mine sounds - I can hear it from the other room. It's impossible to know whether it's just the joists rubbing up against the framing or if they are splitting. It's standard 2 x 4 construction, so I don't think the wood is splitting. At least, I hope not.

 

[lopisided]

Our 90 yr old house creaks above the stove when the stove warms the ceiling up too. It is not loud enough to hear from another room, but noticeable if you are near the stove. Been doing it for years with no cracks in the ceiling. Considering there are 36' long ceiling joists I don't think the 2nd floor room is going anywhere. If I ever reach 90 I will probably creak just as much.

Mine does more than creak, it pops. Glad to know your ceiling is still where it should be.

 

[lopisided]

Has this been happening for 15 years or just recently?

I ask because wood in close proximity to heat usually will shrink crack and pop more than usual. Shouldn't last more than one or two years before it settles down though.

My post and beam sounded like popcorn for the first two heating seasons. Nothing know except the outside decks will pop when it gets extremely cold outside.

The popping started a few years ago, so it's a pretty new event.

I know this is related to heating up the ceiling under the joists, and I imagine it's pretty warm up there. I just need to find out if this is normal (or even if it happens to a lot of homes with stoves) and whether it has to be dealt with or if it will work itself out.

 

[begreen]

Mine does more than creak, it pops. Glad to know your ceiling is still where it should be.

Well for the moment it is, lol. Lately my bottom is the one that is dragging.

 

[lopisided]

When I installed our stove I put Durarock over it for a heat deflection / shield. Granted yours is installed in your living room not your basement like mine, but maybe some kind of heat buffer is needed?

Well, I don't think my wife would appreciate having Durarock on the living room ceiling. I have thought of installing ceiling tin (though, it's expensive), but even with that I would imagine it would heat up unless there were an insulator in between.

 

[lopisided]

Another thought: would a ceiling fan help keep the ceiling cooler? Anyone use their ceiling fans in the winter to circulate the warmth?

 

[lopisided]

When I installed our stove I put Durarock over it for a heat deflection / shield. Granted yours is installed in your living room not your basement like mine, but maybe some kind of heat buffer is needed?

Yeah, possibly. I have a metal heat deflector over the stove to shield the wood fireplace mantel but it doesn't do anything for the ceiling. I could build the deflector out across the living room… Nah, my wife would have something to say about that.

 

[Simonkenton]

I would be interested if you put a thermometer up there. You could put a heat shield on the ceiling, metal spaced one inch away from the ceiling. Copper would look good.

 

[cheechblu]

Another thought: would a ceiling fan help keep the ceiling cooler? Anyone use their ceiling fans in the winter to circulate the warmth?

I use a ceiling fan whenever my woodstove is cooking. The fans will at least distribute your heat in the house a lot better and should cool the ceiling. Big kettle of water on stove top will moisturize the area too.

 

[Beer Belly]

Hmmmm.....our house pops also....never gave it much thought, figured it's normal with the cold outside, and the warm inside.....now if it started creaking, I'd be worried.

 

[spirilis]

I get those pops occasionally, although it's more in the upper level ceiling (when the stove pushes enough heat into the basement stairwell that it heats the ceiling joists up above). 33 year old home.

What really gets the joists popping is summertime heat when the sun's out. That attic gets HOT.

 

[lopisided]

Thanks to all for your suggestions.

I think I'll try the low hanging fruit first: Kettle on the stove for some moisture (I used to do that but got rid of the grungy kettle and never replaced it). If that doesn't help, I'll go with a ceiling fan (been thinking of doing that anyway for summer). If that still doesn't help, I guess I'll have to call in a contractor. $Ka-ching!$

Happy Holidays to all. Stay warm!
Ted

 

[tinman1]

Just think about it. Something is moving in order to make that noise you hear. Safety first! I would no doubt make access hole to find this void