Many people are affected by sleep disturbances due to strange noises at night. Where do these sounds come from, and is there a way to address them?
Causes of Strange Noises at Night
You may be asleep when you suddenly wake up to unusual sounds coming from inside your home. Your mind immediately jumps to the worst-case scenario, such as someone breaking in. However, before panicking, you should try to find a reasonable explanation for these noises.
The strange sounds in your home at night may stem from several causes outlined below.
Expansion of Wood, Metal, and Concrete
The temperature inside the house can change significantly at night. Wood, metal, and concrete react to these changes by expanding.
For example, when the temperature rises, metal sheets expand, causing them to press against each other. The pressure from the expanding metal affects the wavy parts, creating noise. Similarly, wood surfaces that are warm during the day cool down at night, leading to strange sounds that many people find difficult to identify. This is why it can produce unusual noises that might make you jump.
Leaking Water Pipes
The sound of leaking water can resemble thumping or whistling, or a buzzing noise that can be quite bothersome.
You may discover that pipes or faucets are problematic when they create noise at night in a quiet space. The sound may resemble thumping or whistling, or a buzzing noise that can be irritating. The pipes may have issues with water flow or drainage. Additionally, many homes often experience loose pipes that cause dripping in sinks. To avoid being disturbed by the sound of running water, it’s advisable to quickly call a plumber to resolve the issue.
Creaking Sounds in a New House
The noises in a new house are merely the house’s reaction to temperature changes.
If you’ve just moved into a new house and hear creaking sounds every night, don’t worry. All these noises are just the house reacting to temperature changes. A new house is still very damp, and moisture exists in all the materials used for construction. Therefore, as they begin to dry out, they expand, causing noise.
Loose Floor Screws
The creaking of stairs may be caused by loose screws holding the steps.
The creaking of stairs might make you think someone is walking around or that an intruder is in your home. However, this noise may be caused by loose screws holding the steps. You can fix this by tightening them, and if necessary, adding some additional screws to enhance stability.
Mice, Cockroaches, Insects
Walls and attics in your home are ideal places for mice to live.
Mice, cockroaches, and insects can reproduce in large numbers, and the walls and attics in your home provide ideal living conditions for them. If you notice many small holes under the walls, your home might be infested. What you need to do is lure them out of their hiding places or use stronger measures such as traps or insecticides to drive them out of your home.
Mice and Bugs in Gutters
Mice and bugs may use gutters as hiding places until they can enter your home.
Pests like mice can block drainage channels, preventing water from flowing and causing overflow. They may use gutters as hiding spots until they can access your home through the roof. Piles of leaves left in the gutters can also assist pests in achieving their goals. This is why keeping gutters clean is the first step to keeping annoying rodents away. Another solution is to install a mesh screen in the drainage pipes to prevent anything from climbing onto your roof.
Psychological Factors or Imagination
Our brains are always influenced by fear after watching horror movies.
According to psychologists, our brains are often influenced by fear after watching horror films. Our entire body is stimulated, and we tend to imagine an invisible threat, just like in the movies. Mental focus increases, adrenaline rises, and our hearts begin to race.
Psychology experts recommend that whenever we overcome anxiety after watching a scary movie, we should do the following: Confront our fears and ask ourselves how likely that hypothetical scenario could occur. For example, if you’re afraid of a murderer entering your home, ask yourself if that is a plausible situation.
