Spooky Sounds in Your Home that You Shouldn’t Ignore!

Chains rattling in the attic, moaning in the basement? Not exactly. But when you hear spooky sounds in your home — even when it’s not Halloween — you shouldn’t just ignore them and hope they’ll go away.

You’ve heard the notion that “it’s just the house settling,” but is that really a thing? Unexpected noises in your house can be unsettling. Be brave and go check them out!

Sure, there are some sounds that are totally innocuous, like the refrigerator running, or a furnace kicking on, but that’s not always the case. Some of these scary noises are a sign that your home is trying to tell you that something is wrong. It’s always better to investigate further so you can proactively see what may need to be fixed, replaced, or exterminated!

Water running – but nobody is using it

With water damage being the run-away, number one cause of home insurance claims, this is at the very top of the lists of spooky sounds. We turned to out experts at Hippo Home Care to find out which appliances to check when you hear this unsettling noise.
Toilets – Check to see if any toilets are running when they shouldn’t be. Refer to our Toilet Tippos to help determine the cause of your commode’s commotion.

Dishwasher – Look for pooling water around the base of the dishwasher, or in the back where hoses may have been disconnected.

Washing Machine – Check to see if there is water around the washing machine. That can mean your water supply hose has sprung a leak or even broken. It is estimated that 50% of water damage problems come from water supply hose damage.

Sprinkler System – Are there damp areas in your home or water pooling in strange places in your yard? It could be your sprinkler system.

If you are still unable to verify exactly where the sound of running water is coming from, immediately turn off the house’s water and call an expert, to mitigate any damage that may be happening to your home as quickly as possible.

The furnace is making a fracas

In most homes, the furnace is likely something that is out of sight, out of mind—until suddenly it isn’t. if your furnace is making loud banging noises, there’s a chance that it is experiencing burner ignition problems. Gas will build up in the combustion chamber if the burners aren’t lighting properly, causing scary booming pops that will only get worse over time. Who you gonna call? An HVAC expert, as soon as possible!

Creepy-crawly clatter

Can you hear scampering footsteps in your attic? What about incessant scratching from inside your walls?? if so, you may have some uninvited animal guests living in your home. Any type of rodent or insect infestation is dangerous and detrimental to your home. Rodents can chew through wiring, increasing the chance of a home fire and a number of different insects, including termites, can cause your home structural damage that if left uncheck, may require complete replacement. This is especially true once temperatures begin to drop and pests start to seek out warmer environments.

Home insurance coverage when it comes to these pesky critters can be a serious concern because it’s not cut and dry. Most pest-related claims are considered preventable with routine maintenance, so never wait if you fear that you have even the smallest creeper hanging around your home; take proper steps to ensure your home is vermin-free.

Scratching in your gutters

Maybe the scratching you are hearing isn’t coming from inside the house. If the scratching sounds tinny, chances are it is coming from your gutters, and it’s the BIRDS, BIRDS, BIRDS! Not that you want anything but flowing water in your gutters at any time, but the presence of birds can actually be indicative of a larger problem. If you have birds gathering in your gutters, it could be because water is pooling, which may mean that the slope of your gutters is incorrect, damage has occurred, or worse, the downspout is blocked. In any case, it is paramount that your gutters are free and clear to do their job of moving water away from your house, even though cleaning gutters is the most avoided chore by homeowners.

Light bulbs are buzzing

While turning on the lights will scare away the monster under the bed, they could also reveal a problem with your home. If you are hearing a persistent buzzing noise when the lights are on, it’s possible that something is wrong with your lightbulbs. A loose connection or improper voltage can make almost any lightbulb seem to buzz. This can be exacerbated if the bulb is attached to a dimmer switch. First, try swapping or replacing the bulb. If you’re using a dimmer switch, make sure you are using the right type of bulb since not every lightbulb is compatible. If the buzzing persists, you may want to consider replacing your dimmer switch.

Dyer is screeching

A laundry room dryer is notorious for revealing problems by being noisy. These devices are specifically made to run quietly and efficiently so when they start to make any type of racket, it is your cue to inquire further. Screeching could mean belt issues while thumping noises likely indicates drum or axle damage. First, cease all use of the dryer and unplug it. Then enlist the help of a repair person to get you back on track.

Hearing a hiss

Unless you have a pet snake loose in the house (which, even then, EEK!) you should take unidentified hissing noises extremely seriously. These can be indicators of a very serious and dangerous situation like a gas leak. If you can’t quickly identify where the hissing is coming from, or you smell gas, leave the house as fast as possible. Make sure not to touch anything electrical, like light switches, landline phones, laptops, etc., and get as far away from home as you can to call 911. Don’t even start your car. Just get a safe distance away, and call for help.

Your home makes a cacophony of normal noises throughout the year, but avoid getting complacent when you hear something unusual. Listen to your home when it is trying to tell you something — and don’t be afraid of scary sounds in the night!

 

–The contents of this article were provided by and originally appeared on Hippo. Nest Realty does not officially endorse any outside vendors, but found this content worthwhile to share, with their permission. 

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