Those who prefer to purchase luxurious property or real estate will eventually come across older properties filled with historical relevance and character. In fact, these can be among some of the most prestigious and wonderful homes to invest in. Not only might they be protected from surrounding developments, but they may have real community significance in the life of a local town or village.
However, a general principle is that older houses require more maintenance. More can go wrong with them, while older craftsmanship, however impressive, will need some care and attention to sustain.
For this reason, learning to identify and deal with strange noises in older properties is not just a good idea, but an investment that helps a home sustain value. Learning an older, expensive, historical property takes more time than moving into a townhouse, however. In this post, we’ll discuss how to deal with some of the unexpected noises you may hear, signifying a need for further investment:
Pipes Banging
Old pipes tend to make a huge amount of noises, and it’s not always as scary as it sounds. Sometimes they bang when the hot water runs through them, and this happens because older pipes often weren’t installed with room to expand. The hot water makes them move around a bit, and they knock against the walls or floor joists. Sometimes, it might signify an issue with water pressure though, which is why water heater repair could be a good idea. If it’s certainly only the pipes, simple foam padding where the pipes meet wood can quiet things down, but if the banging gets louder over time, it might mean the pipe supports have come loose somewhere in the walls. A plumber who knows old houses can usually sort this out pretty quickly.
Strange Whistling
The weird whistling noise in old houses usually comes from somewhere around the windows or doors, as old houses settle over time, and gaps generally grow for various reasons. Wind finds these little spaces and whistles right through them. Sometimes it’s just a matter of adding some new weatherstripping or adjusting how the window sits in its frame. But if the whistling seems to come from inside the walls, it might mean air is getting pulled through gaps in the old insulation. This isn’t necessarily dangerous, but fixing it can make your heating work better and stop the spooky nighttime noises your child might be complaining about.
Odd Scratching
Scratching sounds in walls tend to make people quite nervous, but in old houses, they’re pretty normal. The wood in these places has been expanding and contracting with temperature changes for decades or even centuries. What you’re hearing might just be the house going through its daily movements and if you notice they’re similar each day, that could be all it is. Yet sometimes those scratches mean you’ve got some uninvited guests, as mice love old houses because they find lots of tiny gaps to squeeze through. Instead of reaching for mouse traps straight away, try having someone check your foundation and exterior walls for places where they might be getting in and if you’re unsure, lay traps or have a pest control agent set spray.
With this advice, your older property is sure to sound how it should.
Author
