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Ghosts, Zombies, Bats…Here’s What You Should Really Be Afraid of This Halloween

Haunted House

There is no question that your home does a lot of strange and spooky things. So, this Halloween, let us help you play the game of; is it haunted or is it broken?

Banging Pipes:

Imagine settling into your comfy bed after a long day, and right as you’re about to slip into dreamland, you’re awoken by a loud banging from your pipes! The good news here is that this is not a sign that your home is haunted. There are a few reasons why your pipes make banging and knocking sounds but one of the most common reasons for these noises is the variable water pressure in your main supply line.

Pressure is important to keep your plumbing system flowing and it allows water to move through your pipes and out your faucets. The sounds you are hearing are caused when the air that is used to pressurize your pipes either begins to leak or is depleting for some reason. This causes the water to move forcefully and quickly through your pipes, which creates those banging sounds as it travels along your plumbing system.

The problem can often be fixed by turning off the main supply valve, which will cut all water in your home. Then you’ll need to flush your plumbing system by turning on all of the faucets in your home and letting the water run dry. Once all the lines are clear, you can slowly turn the main supply valve back on. If water pressure was your issue, then clearing all the lines this way should put a stop to your banging problems. However, if you do this and the banging persists, it might be time to turn to the professionals at Academy Air.

What’s That Smell?

You know that powerful and sometimes scary burning smell when you first turn on your furnace? Well, the good news is that it is likely nothing to worry about. When you don’t use your furnace for long periods of time, let’s say the entire summer, for example, then dust and debris collects in your ducts, on your heat exchanger and other places in your furnace. Then when you finally turn on your furnace, the dust burns away, causing the burning smell. It is perfectly normal for this dust to burn off the first time you turn on the heat each fall. However, if the smell doesn’t go away within a few hours, you may need a new furnace filter or professional help.

However, there are some exceptions and you should be on the lookout, or should we say, sniff out, for the following:

Never ignore a stronger more foul burning smell or if it smells like plastic or rubber is burning or you notice it smells like smoke. This is typically a sign that something is wrong with your furnace and you should get an Academy Air professional to inspect the cause ASAP.

Buzzzzzz

Hearing a strange buzzing or humming sound in your home can be alarming. Our verdict is that your home probably isn’t haunted but your electrical system is likely experiencing some issues. There are many reasons why your electrical system could be buzzing. You’ll need a member of our electrical team to tell you for sure but some common reasons for the buzz in your ear are:

Issues with your home’s wiring can cause buzzing and/or humming sounds. The good news is, no ghosts, the bad news is, wiring issues represents a fairly broad scope of problems and without a professional Electrician, it can be nearly impossible to say what your issue is. Your wires could be carrying improper loads, or be grounded incorrectly, they could have the wrong voltage ratings, etc.

Your circuit breakers could be another cause of the buzzing you’re hearing. There are several reasons for this as well. For example, if you have wires that are not connected to your circuit breaker properly a buzzing sound may occur. However, buzzing is only one thing to be concerned about, this issue can also cause sparking to occur from the breaker. You’ll need to call us immediately if this happens!

Another example is, if your breaker is conducting too much electricity and it doesn’t shut off automatically like it’s supposed to, that buzz is likely caused by an overloaded current. The breaker will need to be replaced as soon as possible to avoid a more serious issue.

Halloween is a fun and spooky time of year. But Academy Air is here for you, no matter how scary things get in your home. Call us anytime at (314) 720-3580 for all of your heating, cooling, plumbing or electrical needs!

 

 

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