Spooky Creepy House Noises and What to Do?

OK OK, it is Halloween and there are creepy creatures and sounds everywhere. But what if your house is where the sounds are coming from and it is no longer Halloween. Well, read on...

                             Does your house make spooky, creepy sounds? Time to investigate

Well in researching the matter, Parker and Sons in Phoenix, state: 

"Creaking and banging house noises are sometimes normal, but they might be a little scarier around Halloween time!

It could just be a harmless “bump in the night,” or it could be a major problem, and here’s how you know…

Ceiling/Attic Noises

One of the loudest but perfectly normal house noises: your roof trusses! In a new house, the wood in these trusses is often full of water, and as it dries out, it shifts, causing loud banging noises. The same thing could happen in older homes, but it’s usually because the roof itself is getting hotter or colder depending on the outdoor temperature, which, again, causes the trusses to move.

Solutions include adding insulation to your attic (so these sounds are less likely to travel downstairs to you), or putting ventilation in your attic if you haven’t already, so the attic isn’t so warm compared to outside.

Floor Noises

What if your house noises aren’t coming from above, but from below? Wood floors are notorious for this problem (especially in horror movies)!

(Even though this isn’t related to your HVAC system, it’s probably the most well-known spooky house noise and the easiest to fix, so we’ll give you some DIY solutions:

All you have to do is take any raised nails out of the floorboard, drill a new screw into the hole. and then cover up your work with wood filler so that it looks good as new!

If you don’t know how to do this, or if you have a lot of squeaky floorboards, try going underneath the floor if possible, and inserting a shim between the floorboard and the joist below the board. If you can’t access the area underneath the floor, try sprinkling powdered graphite into the joints between the wooden boards. Put a towel or other cloth on top, and walk on it so the graphite is tamped down between the joints. This will work for small squeaks, anyway!

If you have carpeting and a squeaky floor, don’t worry. There’s still a solution that doesn’t involve ripping up the carpet to get to the problem! You can buy a kit to help you find where the joists are, and screw the floorboard to the joist. Since you’re going down through the carpet, and the screw head breaks off, no one will ever see your handiwork…you’ll be the repair ghost!

HVAC Problem Noises

However, if the house noises you hear include squeaking or bumping when you’re not walking around…it’s not a ghost…but it’s probably an HVAC problem.

These noises can be caused by a fan or motor belt getting worn, or it could mean that something is loose in your HVAC system that is banging against another part. And if you’re hearing hissing noises, that means your ducts are leaking or your air filter isn’t on tight enough.

Unfortunately, if you’re not a specialist yourself, what exactly that spooky sound is will probably be a mystery to you!

And while a floor repair is something you can easily handle yourself, when it comes to mysterious noises, it’s better to have a professional come take a look. Don’t just assume your house is “settling.” The truth could be a lot more unsettling than that.

The reality of HVAC equipment breakdown is much scarier than a haunted house. If you’d like to play it safe this Halloween, and get a noise investigated."

Then I might add, the swooshing, seeping wind sounds and rattling sounds. Are those ghosts? No, probably older windows that have lost their seals or are rattling due to years and years of use. You may be ok with the sound, if not it may be time to upgrade.

Do you have old doors that creak? 

Old doors? What do you think? Take a look at the Munster's front door.

Do you expect to hear chains rattling inside the door, aka the old TV show "The Munsters"? Spring for a nice door. Get an inexpensive but modern light fixture.

Of course you could ignore these weird creepy sounds and ask me your professional Realtor to find you a new home.

Ready to Sell your CREEPY Home by me your professional Realtor

As your Seller's Realtor, I Jeff Masich can help you with what has to stay and what has to go and help you attract Buyers in order to get the most for your current creepy, spooky (or very nice) home. Give me a call, I would be pleased to help. 

Looking for a "CREEPY House" that you can fix up and make your own? Call Me!

If you are looking to move to Phoenix including Scottsdale or to buy a home in Arizona or sell a home in Arizona, contact Jeffrey Masich, Associate Broker and Realtor. I would be pleased to help you and look out for your best interests while finding you the right home at the right price!