Phantom Humming Plagues Connecticut Town—Drawing Hundreds of Complaints

A humming sound in West Haven, CT, has reverberated in several neighborhoods in recent years, prompting more than 200 complaints to the city.

The persistent noise—which sounds like a vacuum or a kitchen range fan—is making some residents feel like they are losing their minds, according to a new report.

West Haven resident Donna Rzasa tells The New York Times that she has been awakened in the middle of the night by the humming.

Rzasa's neighbor, Kimberly Nunes, has started an online petition on Change.org, which has more than 150 signatures to date, asking for the city's help with the noise.

The petition states, "This disturbing phenomenon occurs at all hours, disrupting our ability to sleep, concentrate, and enjoy life to its fullest. Many residents have reported increased levels of stress, anxiety, and physical discomfort due to this incessant noise and vibration. It's not merely an inconvenience; it's a serious public health issue that requires immediate attention. No resident should be forced to live with a constant industrial noise invading their homes and degrading their quality of life."

A West Haven resident named Paulo wrote on the Change.org site, "The impact extends to our children as well. They have noticed the noise, asked questions about it, and shown changes in their mood and behavior. Sleep is disrupted, routines are harder to maintain, and their sense of comfort at home has been shaken. As a parent, it is heartbreaking to see your children affected by something you cannot shield them from, especially when it interferes with their ability to relax, focus, and simply feel calm."

Suspected source of the noise

John Carrano, West Haven’s human services commissioner, tells Realtor.com®, "The hum noise is not a mystery. We know where it is coming from and are working with the company to address the issue. The media has turned it into a 'mystery' because we have been careful not to name the business as they have not broken any ordinance we can measure with our equipment."

In a video on Facebook, West Haven Mayor Dorinda Borer said in part, "We're fairly confident we know where this noise is coming from. Proving it is another issue. After a year of testing, we met with the company we suspect. I cannot publicly accuse a company nor can I force them to change their operation without the proof in hand."

Carrano confirms to Realtor.com that the City Council voted last month to hire a third-party acoustics expert.

That expert will place noise-monitoring equipment at several locations to pinpoint the exact source of the noise, and will cost the city $16,000.

Bennett Brooks, president of Brooks Acoustics Corp, an acoustical consulting firm with offices in Florida and Connecticut, tells Realtor.com, "Pinpointing and rectifying persistent hums can be very difficult and often requires specialized equipment and expertise."

According to The New York Times, most of the noise complaints have come from a part of the city known as West Shore, near a food ingredient plant known for making edible sparkles.

Martha Kavanagh, director of corporate affairs for Glanbia Nutritionals, which is based in Ireland, provided the following statement to Realtor.com:

"We take community concerns seriously and have worked proactively with the city to assess reports of noise in the vicinity of our facility in West Haven. Independent third-party sound testing, including both extended and multi-location assessments, indicates that our site operates within applicable limits.

"We have nonetheless implemented a series of precautionary measures to improve sound management at the site. These include installing fully enclosed air compressors, upgrading mufflers and sound insulation on key equipment, and constructing targeted sound barriers. We remain committed to being a responsible neighbor and will continue to work constructively with city officials."

The expert’s acoustics report will be available in four weeks, which should provide further clarity.

"Once the source of noise is identified, it may take an extensive engineering project to resolve the problem—or sometimes it may be resolved through a legal process," says Brooks. "Sometimes, it takes both legal and engineering efforts to solve the issue."

Effect on local real estate market

Many studies have shown that noise pollution can impact housing prices.

Attorney Chad D. Cummings of Cummings & Cummings Law in Florida and Texas, tells Realtor.com, "Noise can move price, days on market, and rent. This is exactly the sort of thing that doesn't show up on MLS.

"If measured sound at a site runs 40 to 50 decibels at night and buyers report vibration, lenders and insurers may treat it as a condition issue, and buyers often demand credits, escrow holds, or walk altogether. I've seen noise in Miami and Austin kill deals—usually because of proximity to a busy street corner or location above a grocery store or nightclub downtown—and the concept is the same here."

Cummings warns that legally, sellers may face disclosure traps.

"A seller who knows of recurring noise or of a city investigation can trigger later legal claims for misrepresentation, rescission, or damages, even when the source sits outside the parcel," he says.

"This is especially true if the seller took steps to conceal the noise, like by using a white noise machine. We've seen that trick!"

Cummings says that even if the buyer does not prevail, it can still create months (or sometimes years) of expensive litigation.