Halloween is just around the corner and with it, thoughts turn to everything spooky and supernatural. If you’ve been lying awake at night wondering if random noises or that flickering wall sconce means your house is haunted, we hear you. Read on to find out if those strange events lead you to call a renovator, or a ghost buster!
Things that go bump in the night (or day)
Mark Rason is an expert DIYer and self-taught woodworker and carpenter. Owner and operator of Remarkable Woodworks in Toronto, he is also the resident Renovations Ambassador for the Toronto Home shows. We asked Rason to comment on some of the ways paranormal experts say ghosts try to communicate with homeowners, and what it might mean for you.
Flickering lights, lights that don’t work or dim periodically
Rason says like ghost sightings, flickering lights often happen in older homes, and that it’s not a surprise. Nor is it due to a resident poltergeist stirring up trouble.
“This is often typical of older homes that have knob and tube wiring, or it can occur because of a loose connection.” He says lights that don’t work or dim occasionally can be caused by connections shorting each other out in wall sockets, switches and older homes with spliced wiring.
[The fix
“I highly recommend hiring a certified electrician who has insurance and who can open up the walls, to look into it,” says Rason, adding that for this type of work, trusting a handyman or doing it yourself is not recommended.
Crashing or banging sounds in the walls
While you probably won’t find a mischievous spirit causing the problem, you may not like the alternative.
“Crashing or banging sounds in the walls could be as simple as having rodents, usually rats or mice,” says Rason, “but it can also be squirrels or raccoons, especially if the noises are repetitive and coming from a specific area. Rattling noises can come from pipes, knocking noises from a raccoon, and scratching from a bat — or any animal with long nails.”
[The fix
Rason recommends inspecting the outside of your home to see if there are any entry points such as holes or lose shingles, although they may be hard to see. Call an exterminator to get rid of the rodents and if you do find a hole, make sure the animal is gone and then fill the hole with spray foam.
Moaning, groaning or howling sounds
While these sounds might turn your thoughts to the grieving spirit of a murdered soul, the answer, according to Rason, is less spooky, if a bit unexpected.
“If I heard moaning or groaning, I would look at my hot water tank. Those things tend to moan and groan when there is built-up dust.” Howling, he says, typically comes from a drafty window.
[The fix
“An easy solution for the water tank moaning would be to vacuum out where there is a buildup of dust or use a sprayer to clean things out,” says Rason. “Howling is usually from a drafty window. A quick fix is to take the trim off the window and look for holes. Although it’s tricky to use, if it were me, I would fill the cracks with spray foam, but if you are not experienced with how spray foam can expand, it could be scary. Or, I would use bag insulation with an R value of 14 (R14), then put the trim back on and reseal it with new caulking.”
Cold spots
To a ghost hunter, random cold spots in a home could mean a resident ghost is draining heat from a spot to grab energy to manifest. Can this be true? According to Rason, although cold spots are common, it usually means there is a problem with the heating system. “A cold spot happens because of the way the air is circulating in your home, and where the vents are placed,” he says. Too little or no insulation in the attic could also be the culprit.
[The fix
The best sulution is to upgrade to a smart thermostat. “If you already have wiring for a regular thermostat, this is an easy DIY project. If you don’t have a thermostat, I recommend hiring an electrician to see if there is a way to install a smart thermostat to an older house,” says Rason.
Unexplained smells
Sometimes, an unsavoury scent seems to slowly seep into your space without an obvious source. Smelly spirit? It’s unlikely. According to Rason, if it’s a burning smell, it could be coming from wires and it can also be from dust.
[The fix
“I would look at your dryer vents, inside and outside the house where the vent comes out,” he says. “Fall is a good time to inspect the interior and exterior dryer vents. Unexplained smells can also be a sign of dirty ducts, so you should look to get them cleaned.”
Protect your home from unwanted spirits
Desta Ostapyk is the owner and principal designer of Design by Desta and is certified in Feng Shui. She has been seeing spirits since the age of five and is a “huge believer” in the paranormal. Ostapyk offers up these tips if you are looking to decorate your space to discourage spirits from coming into your home.
You’re not welcome here
“Firstly, I don’t believe you should be inviting spirits into your home, and that starts with your front door,” she explains, adding that it applies to any exterior door that is used as a main entrance. For example, if you have an outdoor mat, keep it simple without any wording, especially the word WELCOME. “Stay away from that,” she says.
From a Feng Shui perspective, having a clear window in the front door is also a big no. “It’s never ideal to have a completely clear window in a [front] door, but if you must have a window, then make sure it’s frosted or ribbed glass. This adds texture and distorts the glass. If you have that feeling that someone is watching you, having blurred windows provides an extra level of privacy.”
A bright, uncluttered space
Ostapyk says in terms of the spirit world and entities, they tend to latch onto people who are depressed or sad and those elements play into our home, too. “A house with lighting and that is not cluttered sends out a happier vibe. Lots of windows let in natural light, and I think mirrors are really good — it’s energy and also helps move light around.”
When it comes to your bedroom, Ostapyk suggests making your bed every day and taking care to keep the space clean and orderly.
“A good takeaway is that it’s important not to store things under your bed because it blocks energy. However, if you have to because you lack storage space, make sure it looks clean and it’s balanced.”
Finally, incorporating natural elements such as wood furniture and plants help ground a space and bring life into a home. And if you really don’t want to invite a ghost in, Ostapyk warns: “Be cautious of bringing items into your home, especially anything used, such as antiques or items you find on the side of the road. Don’t dabble with an Ouija board. People should never have it in their homes and never play with it.”
tip
To ward off unwelcome spirits and bring in positive energy, Ostapyk recommends placing specific crystals and/or stones strategically around your home “You can add a piece of black tourmaline or obsidian near the front door, above or beside it. These are highly protective stones, with obsidian known for its ability to block, absorb or transform negative energy and anything related to emotional trauma or energy.”
Hello, is there anybody there?
From the time B.C. native Corine Carey was three years old, she had experiences that could not be explained. She would see ghostly images and hear and know things that she couldn’t possibly know. Fast-forward into adulthood and now she and her sister, Leanne Sallenback, and friend Kelly Ireland, operate Beyond the Haunting Investigations, to help people get rid of ghosts and spirits in their home.
We asked Carey if a home renovation can trigger paranormal activity. “I would never say every time you do a renovation there will be an event, but it can happen,” she says. “We’ve heard stories of people hearing footsteps, tools being moved or hidden, ladders being moved.”
But can a simple room re-do really disturb a spirit? Carey tells this story: “We were called to a private residence where the owner told us she had just redecorated the home and since then, she has been seeing a shadow figure walking up and down the hall and standing at the door to her bedroom. She called us in. The team went for a home visit to feel the energy in the room and see if we could pick up anything. When we tried to communicate, we instantly felt the presence of an elderly woman. We saw knitting, needles in a drawer, and the old woman seemed very agitated.”
They learned the homeowner had purchased a bedroom side table at a vintage store. When she turned the table over, she found a hidden drawer on the bottom and inside, there were knitting needles and unfinished pieces. “The homeowner was freaked out. She took the table back to the store,” says Carey. “The antique store found the owners of the table, who said their grandmother had just died, and it was her knitting. The homeowner gave back the knitting, and the ghost was gone.”
Top 10 ways ghosts try to communicate with homeowners
- You see an apparition or hear voices
- Cold spots in your home for no reason/abrupt temperature changes
- Unexplained electrical or plumbing issues (flickering lights, taps turning on and off)
- Waking up every night at the same time (ie: regularly at 3 a.m.) for no reason
- Items in your house disappear or relocate without you moving them
- You feel you are being watched and can’t shake it
- You see shadow figures or movement out of the corner of your eyes
- Strange unexplained smells
- Your pets are acting strangely for no reason (avoiding certain spots, scared)
- Knocking or banging you can’t identify
History’s Most Haunted premiered Sept. 8 on T+E during the channel’s nationwide free preview that runs until Nov. 5, 2023. Meet Mark Ranson and Desta Ostapyk at the Toronto Fall Home Show Sept. 29-Oct. 1 at the Enercare Centre. Connect on Instagram: Mark Rason @remarkableworks, Desta Ostapyk @designbydesta, @beyondthehaunting