Living in a home is usually a serene experience. But every so often, it can become downright disturbing. Sometimes, you can hear the ghastliest of noises and wonder what they are.
In this post, we run through some of the things that go bump in the night so you can identify and fix them. Don’t worry, you’re not being haunted by ghosts.
In this post, we run through some of the things that go bump in the night so you can identify and fix them. Don’t worry, you’re not being haunted by ghosts.
Things That Go Bump In The Night
Pitter-Patter Sounds Coming From Your Walls
The sound of pitter-pattering behind your walls can be terrifying. Is your house falling down?
Unlikely. The main cause of strange noises is actually rodents moving through your insulation. If you have a cavity wall - a wall with an inner and outer layer of bricks with a gap in between - then mice and rats can move in and use it as a way to get around. They like it because it makes them feel safe from predators.
Rodents, however, can spread disease. So if you hear this noise, call pest control to remove them humanely.
Unlikely. The main cause of strange noises is actually rodents moving through your insulation. If you have a cavity wall - a wall with an inner and outer layer of bricks with a gap in between - then mice and rats can move in and use it as a way to get around. They like it because it makes them feel safe from predators.
Rodents, however, can spread disease. So if you hear this noise, call pest control to remove them humanely.
Unexplained Flushing
It’s a strange experience when you’re minding your own business, lying in bed, when suddenly the toilet flushes. Has a burglar broken into your home to use the lavatory?
Possible, but, again, unlikely. Phantom toilet flushing is a common plumbing problem, something that Cathedral Plumbing of Texas comes across all the time. It happens when the flushing mechanism inside the toilet starts to fail and repeatedly flushes throughout the night.
Again, the fix is simple: just hire a plumber. Or, if you're feeling confident, follow DIY instruction videos online.
Possible, but, again, unlikely. Phantom toilet flushing is a common plumbing problem, something that Cathedral Plumbing of Texas comes across all the time. It happens when the flushing mechanism inside the toilet starts to fail and repeatedly flushes throughout the night.
Again, the fix is simple: just hire a plumber. Or, if you're feeling confident, follow DIY instruction videos online.
Persistent Knocking
Nothing is eerier than hearing unexplained knocking sounds in the middle of the night. It’s 3:30 am. Who could possibly be at the door?
Well, usually, there’s nobody at the door. It’s actually the changing pressure of water in your pipes that’s creating the noise.
What’s strange about persistent knocking is how regular it can be. It’s like your central heating knows how to keep a rhythm.
The solution to this problem is usually pretty simple: just bleed your radiators and get rid of the trapped air. Once you get rid of the air, there’s nothing to compress. And so the system tends to work much better.
Well, usually, there’s nobody at the door. It’s actually the changing pressure of water in your pipes that’s creating the noise.
What’s strange about persistent knocking is how regular it can be. It’s like your central heating knows how to keep a rhythm.
The solution to this problem is usually pretty simple: just bleed your radiators and get rid of the trapped air. Once you get rid of the air, there’s nothing to compress. And so the system tends to work much better.
Random Rattling
Rattling is another eerie experience that can make you feel on-edge all the time. You wonder what on Earth it could be. Is somebody having a loud party down the street? Are the kids out of bed and knocking against the walls outside?
Possibly. But again, the answer is usually much closer to home. The most common cause of incessant rattling is actually windows bashing against their frames in the wind.
If you have this problem, there are a couple of ways to solve it. You can either replace the windows with UPVC versions that won’t squirm around in the wind. Or you can place small rubber pads or tacks around the edge of the window frame to cushion the window as it moves, reducing the noise.
Possibly. But again, the answer is usually much closer to home. The most common cause of incessant rattling is actually windows bashing against their frames in the wind.
If you have this problem, there are a couple of ways to solve it. You can either replace the windows with UPVC versions that won’t squirm around in the wind. Or you can place small rubber pads or tacks around the edge of the window frame to cushion the window as it moves, reducing the noise.
Bottom line: things will often go bump in the night. But most have simple solutions.
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