Very loud rumbling sound inside house during strong winter winds. Chimney vent?

[Jessica]

We live in Kansas which is having a pretty intense winter storm with lots of wind at the moment. This is our second winter here in this house. Last winter there was an occasional rattling/rumbling sound that kind of shook the house and was a bit disturbing. However, it wasn't frequent enough for us to check into it.

Tonight, the sound is almost non-stop and louder. It sounds like a grinding/rumbling sound and even shakes our bed a little. We have a fireplace in the 3rd level (quad level house) with a chimney that is located right above our room. We don't use the fireplace and it has been sealed off since my family purchased the house at least 5 years ago. My husband went out and looked and it seems like it may be the vent to the chimney catching in the wind.

Does this seem like a logical answer and if so, should I be worried about doing something tonight or do I just need to have someone come seal it off better in the morning? I guess my question is if it is just simply an inconvenience or an actual hazard. Any HVAC specialists out there with answers?

 

[Gatsby216]

As a sidenote I used to live in Kansas. Right now I am near a great lake, so we get lots of wind also.
I would not think there is anything to do tonight or anything to worry about.

I think this is a combination of things, some you might be able to work with some and others are just plain physics.
I have a working fireplace and wind noise whistles in the flue and around the damper.
But if your flue is blocked at the top of the flue then that is not happening.
Could the rain cap be making noise, might be.
As for shaking that is just the physics of the wind force.
The cold seems to make older home make more noise. I guess the wood contracts?
Windows can make noise. Old windows and old style storm windows can make noise.
Look for loose cables, gutters, down spouts, light fixtures, etc. Those things outside can add to noise.
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