Y
ou've probably experienced it: You're watching a scary movie or working from home when you hear an unsettling noise - a creak on the stairs, a door slamming shut, or a pocket of cold air. Before calling in a ghost hunter or reaching for sage sticks, there might be logical explanations for these eerie occurrences.
Jon Christensen, founder of Bidmii, which connects homeowners with contractors, has renovated older homes and found that most "hauntings" have rational causes. He recalls renovating a century-old home where loud banging noises came from behind the walls, especially in the evening.
"It was unsettling," he says. "After investigation, we discovered it was due to a water hammer effect. The antiquated plumbing system combined with our washing machine caused sudden stops in water flow, creating shock waves that made the pipes bang against the walls."
Other common occurrences include creaking floors and phantom footsteps, which can be attributed to wood expanding and contracting due to changes in humidity and temperature. Nails loosen, and wooden floorboards rub against each other, leading to creepy noises.
Doors opening or closing on their own might seem like a horror movie scene, but it's often caused by the house settling over time, causing door frames to become slightly off-kilter. Rehanging doors and adjusting hinges can fix the problem.
Differences in air pressure from open windows can also push doors to swing open and closed. Flickering lights were common in older homes due to outdated electrical wiring. In one case, Christensen found knob-and-tube wiring causing inconsistent power flow, which was resolved by rewiring the house.
Cold spots in rooms are often caused by poor insulation or gaps in windows and siding. Sealing cracks and installing chimney caps can reduce eerie noises. Pests skittering into homes through crawl spaces can cause scratching sounds, while old wiring or faulty outlets can make appliances behave erratically.
In most cases, these issues can be resolved with simple fixes like updating electrical systems, improving insulation, or sealing gaps. So, the next time you hear a strange noise, it might not be a ghost - just your home's way of telling you it needs some TLC.
