Perhaps it’s the change in season that makes October feel ominous as compared to the rest of the months. With its darkening days, rustling leaves, and cooler temperatures, fall brings our attention back to the inside of our homes. But what if you start to notice that not all is right? Odd noises, cold zones and flickering lights can all be signs of an otherworldly presence in your home. If the change in season has made you feel eerie, it’s time to call in an expert. Whether that’s a ghost hunter or a contractor will depend on your individual case. Here’s how to tell if your house is haunted.
1. Sudden Changes in Temperature
Did it just get cold in here, or did a ghost enter the room? One of the most common physical feelings associated with hauntings is a sudden change in temperature. While this could explain why your room feels so cold, there could also be a more practical reason.
A lack of insulation in your walls will cause cold air from the outside to easily pass through into the inside of your home. This can result in cold zones that appear randomly. If you’re concerned about the uneven temperatures in your home, connect with an insulation specialist. They will be able to tell you if your home needs a touch up of insulation, or if you need another expert to fix your cold zone.
2. Flickering Lights
Living in a home with flickering lights can make you feel uneasy and disoriented. Is a spirit trying to communicate with you or do you just have faulty wiring? The best way to tell is to have an electrician come to inspect your home. They will be able to tell you if there’s an issue with your fuze box or if your home needs to be rewired. It’s very common for older homes across Canada to still have knob and tube wiring. If your home is not adequately equipped to handle your needs, you may have trouble powering it. Hire an electrician to fix your freaky lighting.
3. Scratching Noises Behind Walls
Do you hear sounds that you can’t identify? Maybe it’s a soft scratching, like the sound of something trying to claw its way through your walls. Unexplained noises can make anyone feel like they’re going crazy, but in this case you’re probably not. You likely do have visitors living in your walls. No, we don’t mean anything supernatural but it can be scary. These noises are likely coming from pests living in your walls or in your ceiling.
Rats, squirrels, mice and other small rodents will start making their way into our homes as the temperature cools. They can appear out of nowhere as they enter through the tiniest of holes on your exterior. To exorcise these pests from your home, you’ll need to hire an exterminator. They can do an inspection of your home to make sure no pest, living or dead, can sneak into your home.
4. Rattling Windows
Do your windows rattle and shake with every howl of the wind? There’s nothing to fear here, you just have old windows. Unless there is something obviously broken, we rarely take the time to maintain our windows. If left unattended for some time, your windows can start to fog up, rattle and shake all on their own. They can also let in outside cool air if not sealed correctly, contributing to your cold zone issue. To quiet down your rattling windows, have an expert come by to assess the situation. They will be able to tell you if you need to repair or replace your windows.
5. Creaking Floors
Are your floors loud enough to wake the dead? Do they make sneaking down for a late-night snack impossible without waking up the rest of your household? When it comes to things going bump in the night, your floors are to blame and not the ghosts. Over time and depending on the material, our floorboards can warp and shift. This can result in them making creaking or squeaking noises when you walk on them. If you’re concerned about how much noise your floors are making, your best bet is to have a flooring expert take a look.
While your first thought might be supernatural, there’s likely a more reasonable explanation for your haunted home. Instead of ghosts and goblins running amok, your home might just need a little maintenance. Connect with the right pro for your project to fix these haunting problems. Don’t lose another night’s sleep worrying about what’s making all those sounds, it’s likely your house itself.
