Jun 8, 2013 3 min read

Q. I have an old garrison Colonial, and recently I am hearing a rumbling sound in the house, maybe in the basement, a little like a car idling outdoors. It comes and goes. I had a new boiler installed recently. A plumber came over and listened and listened, and heard nothing. Are there any other ways to track it down?

A. Rumbling, groaning, pops, crackles, and other unseemly sounds are very elusive, and take a lot of patience to locate and identify. There are two things you can do: First, shut off all power in the house to see if any noises are electrically related. Turn the power back on and try this: Look for any tree branches that might have grown over and through electric, or any other, wires: cable, telephone, Internet. In any kind of wind or breeze, the branches will brush against the wires, and the sound is like a bass fiddle being played, low and rumbling, amplifying the original sound. Whether you find a sound or not, the branches should be cut to clear any wires because they are a hazard.

Q. In the course of doing some spring cleaning in our basement, I discovered a horizontal 21-inch split along the top of a 4-inch diameter cast iron sewer drain pipe. I did a test by pouring water into the split and letting it sit. It was still there 20 hours later. I have determined that the split does not go through the pipe wall. Can I repair the split with some type of epoxy or should I have a plumber replace the pipe?

A. Since the cast iron pipe is a main drain to the sewer or septic tank, there is nothing under pressure, so you could have a plumber wrap a protective sleeve around the split and seal it, because any sewer drain should be sealed to prevent sewer gases from entering the basement. Or, have him replace that section with new cast iron or PVC.

Q. I am reluctant to replace my 70-year-old wood 6-paneled door, but I guess it’s necessary because of heat loss and leaks that I can see the outdoors through. It’s time to replace. My carpenter suggested a fiberglass door, and my son suggested a couple of small windows at the top. But I like what I have, black and solid (no glass), and no sidelights. How about steel?

A. Fiberglass is good, is insulated, and is easily stained black to your satisfaction. Keep it solid if you like, but two windows near the top will make it welcoming and more friendly, and the two high windows will pose no security problem. Don’t buy steel; it is often the least expensive, but must be kept well painted to prevent rusting. You will not need a storm door on the fiberglass door, but you can keep your present combo storm-screen door to use in the summer.