SIL: "Grandpa, I keep hearing this strange noise in the kitchen and I can't figure it out."
ME: "What appliances do you have or what are you running?" (I'm thinking the furnace is sending a "vibration" because it's cold out and it's running often)
SIL: "I cut the power to the whole house and it is still there!"
ME: "Then what you have there son, is one of the grand kids stuck some battery operated toy in one of the
cabinets and the battery is low and making a indistinguishable sound."
SIL: "No fucking way, I just found it....You are awesome grandpa, this was driving me nuts."
ME: " No problem kid, been there and done that."
SIL: I'm ready to take a hammer to this thing."
ME: No, just put new batteries in it and hand it back to my grand child."
We're still good for something.
ETA: I've had a few whisky's tonight so I surprised myself with my rapid explanation.
GM