We Debunked 7 Classic Haunted House Signs (They’re Not What You Think)

Beyond an unshakable eerie feeling, certain signs can lead people to believe they’re cohabitating with Casper, from creaky floorboards to flickering lights and phantom smells that seemingly come out of nowhere. In fact, about 60% of homeowners suspect that their house is haunted, according to a 2024 survey from Angi, a home services company.

But before you go wagging your finger at a ghost (or running for the hills away from one!) for causing disturbances in your home, you may want to dive a little deeper to find out if you’ve got a home maintenance issue instead that needs some attention — which, to be honest, can be just as scary as it is haunting.

From cold spots to doors mysteriously slamming shut, I asked home maintenance experts to explain what might really be going with these seemingly ghostly occurrences. Here’s what they have to say. 

If you find yourself jumping at the sound of a door slamming shut on its own, you can breathe easy: It’s likely not due to a malevolent spirit. 

“However, the reason could still put a shiver up your spine,” says Kat Garside, a sustainability expert with the Cleveland-based energy brokerage Integrity Energy. “In most cases, slamming doors could be the result of air leaks, gaps, or cracks around your home’s windows and doors.” 

Roughly 30% of the energy your home consumes is wasted due to building inefficiencies, like air leaks, Garside says. You can banish cold and drafty gusts for good, she says, by sealing air leaks with weather stripping, caulk, joint compound, or expanding foam.

Is it a ghost, or is it inadequate insulation? It’s no surprise that cold spots occur in some of the creepiest corners of the home, like basements and attics, Garside says. “These areas are notoriously under-insulated areas of a home, especially in older construction,” she says. 

Consider reaching out to your local utility company or energy supplier to have an energy audit conducted throughout your home, which can help identify areas you can improve with insulation or other upgrades, she suggests. Here are some more tips for how you can warm up your home.

Sudden strange smells can be unnerving. If you’re smelling a slightly burning and dusty smell, it might be the smell that occurs the first few times you turn your furnace on in the fall, Garside explains. No need to worry here: It’s caused by the dust that has settled on the heating elements over the warmer months when it wasn’t in use. “Fortunately, this smell will dissipate after a couple cycles and isn’t a cause for concern,” she says. 

But if you smell something musty or funky when you turn on your heater this fall, it might be a sign of a hidden threat: mold, which isn’t paranormal, but needs to be addressed. 

If your HVAC system hasn’t been cleaned or maintained, it can be prone to building up mold and mildew, Garside says. “This is a dangerous health hazard that could easily be circulated through your vents, causing respiratory issues and other health problems,” she says. It’s a good idea to call in a professional to get the issue addressed. 

Maintaining your air filters and these other tricks will help you reduce mold in your home.

Flickering lights are one of the most common things people associate with hauntings, but in reality, they’re usually a sign of an electrical issue, says Daniel Vasilevski, the director and owner of Bright Force Electrical. 

A flickering light could be as simple as a loose bulb, but if it’s happening throughout the house, it could indicate a bigger problem, like loose wiring or an issue with the electrical panel, he explains. 

“Loose connections cause the current to fluctuate, which results in the lights flickering,” Vasilevski says. “This isn’t something you want to ignore because loose wiring can overheat and potentially cause a fire.”

If you’re noticing frequent flickering, it’s best to have an electrician come out to inspect your system and make sure everything is properly connected and safe. 

(Here’s some more dangerous things electricians want you to stop doing).

When your TV or other electronics seem to turn on or off on their own, it can definitely give you a spooky feeling, but the explanation is usually pretty mundane, Vasilevski says. One common cause is a faulty remote control, he says. Sometimes the power button gets stuck, or there’s interference from another device that’s on the same frequency.

Another possibility is a power surge: When there’s a surge in the electrical system, it can cause electronics to power cycle or reset. This can happen if your home’s wiring is outdated or overloaded. In this case, a surge protector can help, but if it’s happening often, have a professional take a look at your home’s electrical system to see if any upgrades are needed.

Wood expands and contracts with changes in temperature and humidity, which causes it to shift and make creaking sounds, says Timothy Wood, founder and CEO of Fix It Today, a home services company. 

Creaky noises can be especially common in older homes, where floorboards are more worn, Wood explains. The house settling or shifting slightly over time may also cause the structure to make these noises. 

Strange sounds are often from HVAC, plumbing, or even the house settling, says Austin Linney, owner of Deets Mechanical. 

“Pipes and floorboards expand and contract with changes in temperature, which can be noisy, too,” Linney says.

But if you hear scampering or noises in your wall, you might have more cause for concern. Large rats, raccoons, skunks, and even squirrels can make enough noise to wake you up or put you on edge, Wood explains. 

“The scurrying sounds, scratching, and even thumps can seem mysterious if the animals are moving between walls, in attics, or under floorboards,” Wood says. “Raccoons, for example, are strong and agile enough to move heavy objects, leading to loud bangs or rustling, which can seem ominous in the dark.” 

Pests could become a bigger problem if they start gnawing on your electrical wiring, which leads to short circuits and malfunctions, cautions Courtney Klosterman, home insights expert at Hippo Insurance.

While you may not need an exorcism, it might be time to call in pest control.