Explanation for Marble Dropping & Chair Dragging Sounds at Night in HDB Flats

Last Updated on 2023-06-01 , 3:57 pm

Have you been kept awake by the sound of furniture being dragged at night, permeating the otherwise peaceful silence?

This phenomenon isn’t unusual in our office here at Goody Feed, especially on weekends when our boss calls us in to work.

Despite the carpeted floors all around, we often hear the furniture moving sound at night, a peculiar occurrence indeed.

In a more extreme case in 2020, a man residing in Hougang reported his upstairs neighbor to the police 80 times, complaining about a recurrent chair dragging sound at night.

However, the accused neighbor denied the charges, stating that rubber padding had been applied to his chairs and tables to prevent such noises. 

A rather spine-tingling complaint was lodged in 2017 to Mr. Tan Chuan-Jin by a Marine Parade resident.

He claimed to hear upstairs neighbors dragging chairs, yet there was no one living above him.

This begs the question: Where do these furniture dragging sounds at night come from? Are they truly a result of our neighbors’ activities?

Debunking Myths and Urban Legends

There are a number of myths surrounding these noises, especially here in Singapore.

One of the more popular theories involves the tragic disappearance of children in the ’70s, correlating it to the construction of bridges and buildings during the same period.

These structures, according to lore, had marbles embedded in their floors to distract the restless spirits of the children.

However, these are mere tales, with modern children more likely to be engrossed in iPads than marbles.

This phenomenon, contrary to popular belief, is not exclusive to Singapore, but rather, a worldwide enigma. 

So, what could be the actual cause of these furniture moving sounds at night?

The Explanation from HDB

The Housing Development Board (HDB) in Singapore addressed this issue, as approximately 80% of Singaporeans live in HDB flats.

According to a poll, one in five HDB residents have reported hearing the sound of dropping marbles at night.

Here’s what they said:

To date, we have not received any feedback on the sound of dropping marbles where there has not been any attributable cause. HDB Sengkang Branch Office, which manages the flats at Punggol Town, has not received any feedback about the sound of dropping marbles in the area. In Mr Wong’s case, we have contacted him and offered HDB’s help.

We will be checking with his neighbours over the next few days to see if we can locate the source of the sounds Mr Wong mentioned. Madam Shamsuddin mentioned that her eldest son described hearing similar sounds as Mr Wong. If she would like us to look into the matter too, she can contact our Toll-free Branch Office Service Line: 1800-2255-432 to provide us with her address.

In a high-rise, high-density living environment, a certain degree of noise is inevitable. It would also be in the interest of neighbourliness for residents to ensure that the activities carried out within the flat do not generate excessive noise and to exercise some degree of tolerance towards their neighbours.

But there were instances where noises were reported even when there were no neighbors present.

So, what about those instances where the dragging furniture noise was heard, but there were no neighbors to blame?

The Role of Plumbing and Temperature Changes

The mystery of the furniture moving sound at night may lie within the intricacies of the building’s plumbing system.

Water moving within the pipes and the abrupt change in its flow could result in a ‘bang’ sound.

This sound, when filtered through the pipes and floor, can be misinterpreted as the sound of furniture being dragged or a chair being moved.

The change in temperature could also play a part in creating these noises.

Theories suggest that temperature fluctuations may cause movements in other parts of the building, leading to these noises.

The sounds of ‘dropping marbles’ could be attributed to pipes vibrating due to these temperature-induced pressure changes.

Why the Noises Seem More Prominent at Night

You might wonder, why do I hear furniture moving at night more frequently? This can be attributed to the absence of daytime noise distractions and an increased use of water during the evening hours.

When the ambient noises die down, your mind can focus more on the sounds around you, making the noises seem more pronounced. 

Dr. Lily Neo, a retired politician in Singapore, suggested that these sounds are more acute at night when you are alone and undistracted, focusing more on your own thinking and perceptions.

Why You May Hear Furniture Dragging Sounds Even Without a Nearby Tap

The noises can persist even if there’s no tap or water source nearby. Many appliances, like air conditioners and water coolers, use pipes that can transmit sounds across floors.

So, even if you are on the 8th floor, you might hear sounds originating from pipes on the 17th floor. 

In conclusion, before jumping to conclusions about neighbors moving furniture late at night, it’s important to understand that these sounds could be a result of many factors, including the intricate plumbing systems in our buildings.