Spooktacular is in the home? Knocking, banging, whistling, moaning and groaning, and water running when no one in the house is running water?
At this time of year when Halloween is just around the corner… your home may be “haunted.”
Whether a house is old or new, a house will make a variety of strange sounds, especially at this time of year… when things are needing to warm up again,
and when the world quiets down at night, all those eerie clanking noises seem to surface.
You may have a “haunted house.” There are a few things you can do to check out these haunting sounds to determine, “Are we haunted or not?”
Groaning, Knocking and Clicking: Are these ghostly sounds from rattling chains in your attic, or did you just turn your heat on for the first time this fall? You can
expect a little groaning and moaning from your heating system. These sounds are from ductwork in your house as it expands and contracts from the change in
temperature.
BUBBLING AND POPPING: Is this the sound of a cackling wicked witch, stirring up her special witch’s brew she will be serving on Halloween Eve? Or is this
your water heater, telling you it may be time to replace me? The bubbling and popping are the sounds from sediment that has settled to the bottom of the tank, as
the water heats. When a gas or propane system lights up, it’s also common to hear a popping sound. Draining your water heater to remove the sediment can help.
Any more, especially if you bought a home that was built as a “spec” home, most contractors choose the low end of all the equipment installed in your home,
and if your home is 10 years or older, your water heater is probably telling you something. Better to be pro-active versus re-active when your water heater
begins to leak.
BANGING IN THE WALLS? Do you have googly goblins lurking in your walls trying to scare you away, or are these banging sounds in your walls from air
pressure in your water pipes. You may notice this happens more often after you use a faucet or flush a toilet. Water pipes run all through the house, so the sound
doesn’t have to happen near the water source itself.
FOUL ODOR: Is this a trick-or-treater playing a prank on you and egging your home, or may there be a slight gas leak? This could be a serious situation. It’s
always better to be safe than sorry. Call our local gas company to research your home.
A GURGLING TOILET: Is this a gurgling ghoul discussing how to sabotage your home further or a much more serious problem.
1.) A toilet valve that is worn out can also be the cause of a gurgling sound. If you have a toilet that constantly runs, this is a good indication. The gasket in the tank reservoir may need to be replaced.
2.) A backed up sewer line can be the culprit. Tree roots sometimes grow into the sewer line; add in other possible flushed items such as baby wipes, which can snag on the roots.
This latter culprit can create a big gurgling mess and require sewer line repair and other plumbing repair. Be aware, if you own a home 40 years or older you probably have galvanized drain lines. These all should be
replaced as they begin to wear out. This gurgle should definitely be taken care of proactively.
BREAKER SWITCH TRIPPING: Is a jack-o-lantern playing tricks on you to turn the lights out so he shines and scares you away, or is there more of a serious problem to address? You can correct this problem easily by having our master electricians find the solution.
If you hear haunting sounds that go “bump” in the night in your home this fall and winter, “Who ya gonna call?” Central, the Ghost Busting Team, which delivers
“All Treats and NO Tricks.”
As always, your comfort is my Central Concern. Call 756-6656 for all your heating, cooling, plumbing, electrical and drain cleaning needs!
An old time favorite of my Kids this time of year: Who does not love Rice Crispy Treats (follow recipe on the box). Take a bit of a twist when mixing the hot
marshmallow mixture, add orange food coloring and mix with cereal. As I press mixture into pan, I add 1 cup of the fall-colored M&M’s into mixture evenly.
Enjoy!
