Keep hearing strange noises in your home? Don’t worry – it’s probably not a ghost. Many unusual noises can be easily explained and may in fact be signs of problems. Here are just five common unusual noises heard around the home and their likely causes.
Scratching
A scratching sound in the walls could be a sign of a pest problem. Mice and rats are the most common culprits – these animals are nocturnal so you’ll likely hear the scratching at night. Squirrels, birds, bats and cockroaches could be other offenders.
By hiring the help of a pest control service such as 000 Pest Control you can get to the bottom of the sound. Getting rid of pests could be essential for preventing the spread of disease, preventing contamination of food and preventing damaging to your home as a result of chewing and nesting.
Whistling
Whistling is likely to be caused by wind. Even if there are no windows or doors open, it could be getting in through cracks in walls, door frames or window frames. Sealing up your home could be necessary to prevent this noise. It could also help to prevent cold drafts getting into your home in winter.
Another possible cause of whistling could be an unclean air conditioning filter. This could be something to consider if you have an air conditioning unit (the noise will likely be more constant)
Banging
Banging noises in the walls can be alarming, but it could simply be ‘water hammer’. This is caused by water slamming against closed faucets in pipes – usually after turning off a tap suddenly. Most pipes should have air chambers that prevent this noise from occurring, however this air can escape. You can read a simple guide on how to get rid of water hammer here at The Spruce.
Banging can also occur in a heating system. This could be a boiler problem that may require calling a plumber to fix.
Popping
If you hear popping noises coming from windows and floorboards, it could simply be due to changes in temperature. This can cause materials like wood and aluminium to expand and contract, which can cause a popping noise.
Such a sound may be fixed by regulating the temperature more evenly in your home or by limiting sun exposure (in the case of windows). Usually such noises are nothing to worry about – you should only worry if small cracks start appearing or gaps in seals start to appear.
Gurgling
Gurgling sounds can often be heard in radiators. This is a sign that there is air trapped in the radiator and that it needs to be ‘bled’. Bleeding a radiator can be done oneself using a radiator key.
Pipes and boilers can also create gurgling sounds as a result of trapped air or debris. This could be worth consulting a plumber about if it is loud and frequent.
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