6 Spooky and Strange House Noises, Explained
What do an ice maker, a leaky faucet and HVAC all have in common? They can produce some really spooky sounds. And when those sounds happen, we understand that your first reaction is likely to assume the worst.
But that’s also where we come in to help, because odd noises around the house don’t automatically mean total danger. Here are six spooky and strange house noises, explained—and what to do about them:
1. Creepy critters running behind your walls
You caught a mouse in the trap you set out just the other day, and now it sounds like the mouse’s friends and family are setting out for revenge. Or, your worst nightmare: It’s actually a creature from Stranger Things. Now, now … let’s not get too carried away. It’s probably the mouse’s family.
Creepy house noises explained (and what to do next): It does seem like you might have a problem with mice. Keep food in sealed containers, and regularly take out the trash. Also, don’t forget to seal any holes around your home.
2. Scratching noises coming from outside
No, no, no … What is that? A burglar? An animal? Is it finally time to get your end-of-the-world bug-out bag from its secret hiding place? For now, we recommend staying calm and fully under the covers.
Scratching house noises explained (and what to do next): Due to wind, branches from a nearby tree were most likely scratching across your window. Looks like it’s time for a trim—so be sure to take a closer look at all branches and limbs that hang near or over your windows, siding and roof.
3. Random rattling on a still night
Okay, now is it the end of the world? Or, maybe the kids are having a middle-of-the-night dance party and you simply weren’t invited to? No, not likely.
Rattling house noises explained (and what to do next): The noise you hear is most likely your windows rattling with the wind. This can be fixed by installing some weather-stripping around the windows. Once your windows are nicely sealed, you can throw a real dance party in celebration!
4. Abrupt chirps in the middle of the night
Beep! You wake up and mutter, “What is that?” and roll back over. Beep! You open one eye, scan your surroundings and drift back to sleep. BEEP! Okay, third time’s a charm. You turn on your phone’s flashlight and cautiously drift around every corner of your house to see where the mystery chirps are coming from.
Chirping house noises explained (and what to do next): The most probable cause for the noise is your smoke detector letting you know the battery is low. Time to replace your batteries with a fresh pair!
5. Persistent knocking coming from somewhere
Imagine waking up so suddenly you sit right up and quietly glance around the room without moving a muscle. Then, you hear it: knocking. As you check the clock, you think, “Knocking? At 3:12 a.m.?” It’s perfectly on beat, and you have no idea where it’s coming from.
Knocking house noises explained (and what to do next): The noise you hear is nothing spooky—just most likely just the pressure of your home’s pipes moving water around abruptly. If the noise persists, call in the pros for an assessment.
6. Unexplained flushing in every bathroom
You’re sitting there minding your own business—when all of a sudden, a toilet flushes. Minutes later, another toilet follows suit. The weird part? Your entire family is in the living room watching a movie. The only explanation, clearly, is that it’s a ghost.
Flushing house noises explained (and what to do next): Well, we have good news: Your house is not haunted! You most likely just need to replace the toilet flappers. It’s just a mere coincidence that each needed to be replaced at the same time…or was it?