Spooky House Noises To Watch Out For

Are noises in your house startling your children, unnerving your guests and keeping you up at night? Make it stop!

I talked with experts to learn about DIY solutions for these creepy sounds. Let’s quiet things down and make your home less spooky.

Squeaky Door

This unsettling noise, one of the most common complaints from homeowners, often stems from the natural expansion and contraction of wood, or the wear and tear of door hinges.

To address this, we recommend applying a shot of dry lubricant to the hinges. Then open and close the door a few times to make sure enough lubricant gets into the hinge pin before it dries.

Another trick: Putting natural lubricants like petroleum jelly or olive oil on the hinge, which aren’t as messy as spray lubricant.

Whistling Window

If you notice a whistling sound from your windows, it most likely indicates an issue with weatherstripping, says Jeff Palla, president of Mr. Handyman, a Neighborly company.

Wind flowing through gaps around the windows creates the whistling. Address this by adding weatherstripping and/or caulk to seal around windows and doors. This will also boost the energy efficiency of your home.

Screechy Dryer

Ever notice an irritating screeching noise and discover it’s coming from your dryer? It may be a clogged dryer vent.

“If your dryer is screeching and is warm or hot to the touch, turn it off and unplug it immediately,” says Stacy Brown, director of technical training at Real Property Management, another Neighborly company. “Dryer vent fires are serious and can cause your home to go up in smoke very quickly.”

You can clear out the vent yourself or call a professional.

Creaky Stairs

A staple in horror movies, creaky stairs can be particularly off-putting. “Stairs are made up of wooden parts, so it’s inevitable that they’ll eventually start to creak since age causes looseness,” Palla says. Luckily, you can repair creaky stairs yourself.

Loud Banging or Clanking Appliances

Brown says banging or clanking noises coming from appliances could be mean something is stuck, or the device is about to fail.

If your dryer makes a loud, rumbling noise, you may need to replace the motor. If your air conditioner is making a racket, you can replace the condenser yourself. Here are additional tips for mastering home appliance repair to silence the bangs and clanks.

Buzzing Walls

If your walls are buzzing, it’s possible bees have moved in!

David Price, associate certified entomologist and director of technical services for Mosquito Joe, another Neighborly company, says several species may take up residence in your home if they find a way in.

“The most common are honey bees,” he says. “As their hive grows larger and production of honey increases, there can be a fair amount of damage to the interior wall.

“Yellow jackets and European hornets can enter through loose siding, loose trim around a window, eaves or soffits. As their nest gets larger, producing more heat and relative humidity, the wall board becomes weaker.”

He recommends contacting a pro who can relocate the hive and/or exterminate the bees from the interior. If you decide to remove the bees yourself, follow these important steps to stay safe. Once the intruders are gone, assess any damage and start on wall repairs.

Clattering or Scratching Sounds on the Roof

If you hear clattering and scratching sounds on your roof at night, you may have broken tiles or shingles.

All shingles ultimately shatter and disintegrate over time due to strong winds, sun damage and other factors. Even just one loose shingle could produce unnerving noises, especially on a windy night. Find peace and quiet again by following these steps to easily repair broken shingles.

Loud, Rhythmic Knocking Inside Walls

Loud knocking coming from inside your walls can certainly instill fear. Fortunately, it’s most likely just pipes expanding as hot water rushes through them.

However, banging water pipes could also indicate an underlying problem that needs to be addressed, like water hammering. The best remedy is a water hammer arrester with a lubricated internal piston.

Hissing or Running Water Sounds

Phantom water noise will also get your attention. You might hear water running, whooshing or a swirling around inside the walls even though all faucets are closed.

The noise could indicate a leak that leads to bigger issues if not addressed in a timely fashion. Check out these tips on how to spot and stop common hidden water leaks from bathtubs, showers, sinks, toilets and more before they cause rot and other expensive damage.

Scratching, Rustling or Thumping in the Walls or Attic

These creepy sounds will definitely keep you up at night. Possible causes are branches rubbing on the roof, an air vent that’s wearing out and needs to be lubricated or replaced, a loose chimney cap or skylight, or pests like rats or mice. “Rodents love to infiltrate our homes and set up their own little communities, ” says Brown.

For the latter, inspect your home for entry points and seal any cracks or holes.

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