What’s Going Bump In The Night In Your Home?

Most homeowners are going to hear them at some point in their life. The scratches, the dings, the bangs, and the whispers that can rush through a home at night, quiet enough to go without notice most of the time but loud enough to keep you up at night. No, it’s not very likely that there are ghosts in your home. So, here we’re going to look at the more terrestrial causes of unexplained noise, and what you can do about them.

This is a contributed post and contains affiliate links. My website is my job, and helps to support our family. If you decide to buy something you see mentioned here, I would be so thankful if you clicked through my links so I can receive a small commission at no cost to you. Thank you! Please read my full disclosure.

[ctt template=”4″ link=”37oQc” via=”yes” ]What's going “bump” in the night in your home? The scratches, the dings, the bangs, and the whispers that can rush through a home at night, quiet enough to go without notice most of the time but loud enough to keep you up at night. We’re going to look at the causes of unexplained noise, and what you can do about them.[/ctt]

Link to Image

Leaks

If you hear dripping or something metallic at night, especially in the bathroom or kitchen, there’s a good chance that something is up with the pipes. In a lot of cases, it’s going to be a leak. Turn your water shutoff valve and see if that stops the noise. Then turn it back on and see if the noise comes back. If that’s the case, then you need to get a plumber out. Leaks aren’t only annoying, they can end up doing serious water damage and spreading mold and damp, which can be bad for the health of the home and everyone inside it. Otherwise, bubbling sounds can be the result of sediment gathering in the water heater, which will also need a clean.

Just the wind?

If you’re hearing whisper-like noises or rustling fabrics like curtains, then there’s a very good chance you’ve just left a window open somewhere. Do be careful to close up the house properly before you go to bed. But if that’s not the case, then it could be a sign that you have an air leak in the home. First of all, ensure that all ventilation to the outside is closed for the night. Then check your windows and doors for air leaks. If you find them, then caulk and weather-strip them. Air leaks can make it a lot harder to heat up or cool down the home, which means your energy prices can skyrocket when you use heating or air conditioning.

Link to Image

Unwanted guests

If you hear scratching or possibly little squeaks, then, unfortunately, the most likely cause is that you have some unwanted guests in the home, most likely of the rodent variety. There are a lot of other signs that you can check to help confirm your suspicions. You might find scratches on the walls, particularly where you have counter tops and closer to the floor. If you spot any droppings, then that’s a sure sign, too. As soon as you know you have free loafing, furry tenants, services like Natura Pest Control can help you evict them. From there, you need to look at how you prevent them from getting inside, such as closing any air leaks and keeping the area around the home clean of garden debris. What’s more, think about investing in ultrasonic alarms. They lose effectiveness over time, but they can make your home so unpleasant to mice that they move for greener pastures.

Your pipes

Beyond leaks, pipes can make a lot of noise. If you turn the hot water on during the winter, you can hear a lot of rattling. Flushing the toilet in the middle of the night causes the pipes to become active and you can hear the sound of them working away for some time even after you’ve finished. This happens because of water hammers, when water is rushing but the exit point is suddenly closed, and it can do real damage to your pipes over time. You can drain water from your pipes by turning off the water then find and turn the lowest faucet to drain it. But you should check your water pressure if you want a longer-term solution.

Link to Image

The heating

Heating the home, especially for the first time of the day, can result in a lot of strange sounds, too. Clanking, knocking and clicking sounds might be a result of turning your heating on or off. This is especially true of the beginning of winter when you’re turning it on for longer than usual. Sometimes, it might be completely natural. Heat causes things to expand and your ductwork might be doing just that. If it’s from the radiators, however, there might be something stopping heating from being as efficient as it should be. Bleed the radiators to see if that fixes the noise. If not, consider services like Plumbcare that can flush and clean them more thoroughly.

Settling

This is the most commonly used expression when explaining away strange house noises. “It’s just settling.” Indeed, as mentioned, heat and cold can cause elements of the home to expand or contract very slightly, which isn’t something to be too concerned about. If they grow more frequent or come from lower in the house, however, then “just settling” can be very unsettling indeed. It can be a sign of foundational damage, often caused by rising damp, expanding roots, or recent construction and demolition activity in the area. It’s worth inspecting your foundation just to make sure that it’s alright. Otherwise, your house can begin sinking, cracks can appear in the walls and, eventually, it can lead to some serious damage.

Link to Image

The Hum

Perhaps what you’ve heard at night is a low, persistent hum. Perhaps the heating is on, or a car has come to a stop in the neighborhood with the engine on. However, there is a genuinely unknown phenomenon known as The Hum which has befuddled residents and researchers alike throughout the globe. As well as being documented in Indiana, the Hum has been reported in Australia, the UK, Canada, and Mexico. In the case of the Kokomo, Indiana hum, however, it was found to be from a nearby Chrysler plant. You may very well be one of the few people susceptible to the Hum in a new Hum hot spot.

The Hum is the closest thing to a paranormal event occurring in your home, but most other sources of random noise have an explanation and often they can even be a warning sign that your home needs a little more attention. Use the tips above to find the source of that noise and do something about it.

This is a contributed post.

Subscribe so you never miss a post.

Please share this post.