Have you ever felt something strange going on inside your house? Do you see things and hear sounds that give you the shivers? Halloween season or not, they do occur. Amanda Lecky shared Real Simple's Facebook fans' common domestic mysteries as well as some advice from the pros on how to dismiss them.
1. Creaky stairs
The creaks stem from wear and tear, it's that simple. Due to constant use and with wood's natural expansion and contraction caused by the changes in temperature and humidity, the nails and screws are likely to move. Walking on the loose spots make them creak, according to home inspector Frank Lesh. What you can do is to tighten the creaky areas with reinforcements.
2. Microwave oven turning on by itself
Chris Zeisler of RepairClinic.com says that if you have an over-the-range microwave, the vent may be powering on automatically when you produce a lot of heat or steam on the cooktop below. It could also be that the cooling fan inside the microwave is starting up because a switch inside the door has been damaged, added Zeisler. There is no fix, if it's caused by the vent. If it's coming from the cooling fan, you will need to call an appliance technician.
3. Door won't stay open
The screws which hold a door to its hinges loosen over time and cause the door to hang out of plumb while the off kilter weight pulls the door closed. Home-improvement expert Lou Manfredini advises to hold a level against the outer vertical edge of the door. The bubble of the vial of the level, according to him, will tell which way the door has to move. A screw from the hinge that is loose should be removed, to be replaced with one that is at least least 2½ inches long. He explains, "This will tighten up the hinge, and the door to the wood framing behind the jamb, so it functions properly."
4. An orange hue in the bathtub even if it has just been cleaned
If bleach has been used to scrub the tub, the chemical has reacted with the cast iron beneath the porcelain veneer and this leaves the orange tint, according to cleaning expert, Brian Sansoni. You may treat the stain with a nonchlorine-bleach product or hydrogen peroxide. Instead of using bleach, use white vinegar or a bleach-free commercial bathroom cleaner.
5. Windows rattle and whistle
This may be due to loose window sashes, the frames that hold the glass, or it may be that poor weather is stripping around the sashes, thus allowing the windows to move back and forth when there are changes in pressure between inside and out, or if it's windy. Manfredini recommends, "Check the condition of the weather stripping and trim that holds the sashes in place, and replace any that's damaged or missing. If it still wriggles even when it's latched, you may need to replace locks.
6. Banging or knocking sounds inside the walls
Lesh says that the loud sound inside the walls, called "water hammer," occurs when there is too much air in the water system brought either by a problem in the well pump, a leak in the pipe, a malfunction of the water-treatment system, or the clamps holding the pipes inside the walls have become loose. What can be done is to remove the air bubbles which cause the banging. "Turn off the main water valve, where the water comes into the house," he says. "Next, turn on all the faucets and flush the toilets until there's no water running out of them or into them. Then turn off the faucets and turn the water main back on," he suggests.
7. Running water when nothing is turned on
This is oftentimes caused by a leaking toilet valve, says plumbing pro, Chuck White. You can adjust the fill valve on each toilet by tightening or loosening the screw on top of the vertical tube connected to the fill valve, and then flush. Have the level about a half-inch below the overflow tube. If it still doesn't work, replace the flapper valve, says Manfredini.
