For homeowners, things that go bump in the night can be frightening because they may be a sign of a costly problem that needs to be addressed before it becomes catastrophic.
This spooky season, take the time to listen for creaking, clanging, thumping and piercing noises and other unnerving sounds that may be indicators that a poltergeist has moved in — or, more likely, your house revealing things are not quite right with the mechanicals or appliances.
Hippo, an insurance provider that helps homeowners take a proactive approach to preventing issues that become claims, is offering tips to identify spooky house noises and the underlying issues.
“Having unexpected noises in your home can be extremely unsettling, but some of these noises are actually signs that your house is potentially trying to tell you something could be wrong,” Hippo home insights expert Courtney Klosterman said during a recent interview. “And so it’s important to not only pay attention to them but do your best to identify the source.”
When homeowners familiarize themselves with things that could go wrong, it helps them protect what is typically their most important financial asset, she said, and many people dive into homeownership and realize that there are a ton of roles they need to play to maintain a home to preserve its value and avoid unexpected costs.
Given recent upticks in home insurance premiums due to natural disasters, Klosterman said, one of the most important problems to be on the lookout for is water damage. Water damage is one of the top insurance claims nationally, she noted.
The sound of running water when no one in the house is using water should cause a homeowner’s ears to perk up.
“When you hear sounds of running water in your home, it’s important to start by checking areas of your home that could potentially be the source of the leak,” Klosterman said. Inspect appliances, including dishwashers and washing machines, and look under them for pooling water. Look under toilets and examine sprinkler systems — common sources of leaks.
“If you can’t find the source, then consider turning your water off and calling in a plumbing expert to come in and help you track down the source of that noise,” Klosterman advised.
Creepy crawly sounds inside a home may indicate animals have gotten into the walls or attic as they seek warm shelter heading into winter.
“Patch up any of those areas that could be welcoming to our little furry friends and whatnot that tend to be more common in the winter months,” Klosterman said.
And sounds outside the house at the gutter line can indicate a bird or a rodent enjoying pooling water in gutters that are pitched incorrectly or have not been maintained.
“It’s important to maintain your gutters especially if you’re in an area that’s heavily wooded or you have trees or other types of debris that can get into your gutter lines,” she said. “… Make sure that the drainage is flowing properly from the top of the home out to through the downspout and away from your home to avoid any types of water backup that could happen and which often attracts types of birds and other rodents into the gutter lines and can often just become areas of disrepair if not addressed early.”
Light bulbs and outlets that make a buzzing sound can be annoying, but also a sign of a safety issue such as improper voltage or a loose connection.
“First you could try swapping or replacing light bulbs that seem to be flashing or where you’re starting to hear that buzzing sound,” Klosterman said, and if a new bulb doesn’t fix the noise, call in an electrician to inspect the electrical system for a bigger issue. “There are certain types of repairs or maintenance tasks that are left up to the professionals,” she added.
Screeching? This disturbing sound generally comes from the laundry room.
“A laundry room is kind of notorious for revealing problems, especially ones that can be noisy, because there tend to be a lot of issues with these appliances at times after they’re overworked,” Klosterman said.
Dryers are designed to run efficiently and quietly, so if a dryer is suddenly louder than it had been, it could mean there is an issue with the belt line.
“It’s important to bring in a professional to look at that type of repair. And just make sure that if you’re hearing that sound that you unplug the dryer and turn it off until you can get help to get the appliance back on track,” she said.
Hissing coming from the basement can be a sign of a dangerous issue, Klosterman said, namely a gas leak.
If there is a smell of gas in the house “leave your home immediately and contact your utility company or an emergency line to come in and investigate the issue, which can be obviously detrimental if not addressed quickly,” she said.
Loud banging noises may be traced to a furnace.
“Your furnace is typically out of sight out of mind,” Klosterman said. “But if it’s making loud banging noises there is a chance that there could be an issue like a burner ignition problem. Gas can build up in the combustion chamber if the burners aren’t lighting properly.”
The problem may present itself as a booming, clicking sound.
A furnace or HVAC system often has a warranty or service contract, so getting annual maintenance performed and reporting unexpected sounds can resolve issues at no extra cost to the homeowner.
“Bringing in a professional to just do an annual tuneup — that can help you prevent larger malfunctions or breakdowns that can happen on the coldest day of the year when these types of appliances or systems are overworked,” Klosterman said.
Several days could go by before a service company can respond during the coldest days, she noted, because there will be other customers experiencing the same issue at the same time. Maintenance before winter can avoid the situation altogether.
“The best claims experience is the one you don’t have to have, and part of that just comes with having more knowledge and awareness of the things that can go wrong in your home,” Klosterman said.
