What the Noises around Your Home are Telling You

One of the most disconcerting things about purchasing a new home is acclimated to the new sounds.  Whether it’s traffic, your neighbor’s affinity for revving their engine at 2 AM or the local dogs that hold regular barking sessions, it can take a bit to adjust to your new surroundings.   With a little luck, these noises may eventually become something you can tune out.  However, there are some noises that your home may make that shouldn’t be dismissed as normal because they can signal serious issues.  Here’s what to listen for.

You Hear Water is Running & No One is using it: There are few reasons this could be occurring.  One is if your toilet is running.  Be sure to also examine your dishwasher, sprinkler system and washing machine.  If you are able to determine that none of these are the cause, know that the issue could be something more serious, such as a broken pipe which needs the attention of a plumber ASAP.

Scratching Noises from Your Gutters: If this is happening to you, it could signal that a bird is nesting in your gutters, which also often means that there is standing water in them.  Standing water is evidence that the gutters are either clogged or have water pooled in them, which can be a sign that the sloping of the gutters is not at the correct angle.  (Shameless plug: Banish birds by installing LeafGuard brand gutters which are a gutter and a cover all in one piece.  Better yet; they’re guaranteed to never clog or we’ll clean them out for free.)

There’s Movement in Your Attic:  An attic setting is similar to that of a hollowed out tree and the perfect place for squirrel to raise their babies.  Keep an eye out for ceilings with chewed holes or stains as they indicate you’ve got company.   Squirrels are often most active during the daytime.  If you’ve got attic noises keeping you up at night, the offending animal is likely a raccoon, and possibly, its young.  Due to the possibility of rabies, we recommend that you contact a professional to handle the elimination process.  Deter raccoons with a mesh screen around your chimney.  Secure garbage cans and keep pet food inside your home.  Physical evidence of entry by a raccoon can include mud or scratch marks near vents, downspouts and corners.