Is it Paranormal? Or Just Normal?
Laura Pennace - The New York Paranormal Society
If you think your house is haunted, try these simple, easily checkable tests. If all else fails, contact us at and we will be more than happy to help you determine the presence of paranormal activity.
If you hear....
Moaning/Groaning: A guttural or painful sound can come from a variety of places, and doesn't always have to have a paranormal source. If the wind is blowing outside, it could be the sound of tree branches moving or even the sound of wind blowing through small cracks in your house. If you do hear moaning, make sure to determine what the
weather is like outside, as that often is a good way to disprove paranormal activity. Additionally, older homes tend to "settle" constantly. You may notice it more during the night simply because in general, nighttime is quieter. Lastly, consider any sort of animal that may be outside - if you live in a remote area, could it be a wild animal? Do you or any of your neighbors have an outdoor pet? Sometimes sounds coming from outside sound like they are in your home.
Scratching: While scratching could be a sign of paranormal activity, it could also be a sign of something much more frightening - mice. When your house is infested with mice, you will often hear scratching (and maybe even shrieking) in the walls, ceilings, and floors. It's best to call an exterminator if you believe you have mice in your home.
Taps/Bangs: The first thing to think about when you hear any sort of thudding noise is what's outside your home - are you surrounded by trees with branches that could feasibly hit your house? Could there perhaps be rogue children outside throwing things, and your house is an unfortunate victim of their pranks?
If you see....
Shadows: Questions to ask yourself - are there candles anywhere within eyesight? Do you have any pets that could be moving around, casting shadows in strange places? Could it even be your own shadow? It sounds silly, but oftentimes if you see something weird out of the corner of your eye, it's actually just you.
If you feel....
A Breeze/Cold Spot: There's a chance you may have an air leak somewhere in your house - usually a window, chimney, or door. This could also account for cold spots. See if you can trace the origin of the breeze to one of these locations.
Finally, if you simply sense something awry, or if you are seeing/feeling anything that seems extremely unusual, consider the location of your home, as well as some of your household objects. If you live near power lines or have older electronics, there is a good chance that the EMFs, or electromagnetic fields, that are given off are affecting your mind, causing you to hallucinate. While this is rare, it's important to know that EMF Hypersensitivity could be negatively affecting your state of mind. It's best to check with an electrician if you believe this to be the case.
If you think your house is haunted, try these simple, easily checkable tests. If all else fails, contact us at and we will be more than happy to help you determine the presence of paranormal activity.
If you hear....
Moaning/Groaning: A guttural or painful sound can come from a variety of places, and doesn't always have to have a paranormal source. If the wind is blowing outside, it could be the sound of tree branches moving or even the sound of wind blowing through small cracks in your house. If you do hear moaning, make sure to determine what the
weather is like outside, as that often is a good way to disprove paranormal activity. Additionally, older homes tend to "settle" constantly. You may notice it more during the night simply because in general, nighttime is quieter. Lastly, consider any sort of animal that may be outside - if you live in a remote area, could it be a wild animal? Do you or any of your neighbors have an outdoor pet? Sometimes sounds coming from outside sound like they are in your home.
Scratching: While scratching could be a sign of paranormal activity, it could also be a sign of something much more frightening - mice. When your house is infested with mice, you will often hear scratching (and maybe even shrieking) in the walls, ceilings, and floors. It's best to call an exterminator if you believe you have mice in your home.
Taps/Bangs: The first thing to think about when you hear any sort of thudding noise is what's outside your home - are you surrounded by trees with branches that could feasibly hit your house? Could there perhaps be rogue children outside throwing things, and your house is an unfortunate victim of their pranks?
If you see....
Shadows: Questions to ask yourself - are there candles anywhere within eyesight? Do you have any pets that could be moving around, casting shadows in strange places? Could it even be your own shadow? It sounds silly, but oftentimes if you see something weird out of the corner of your eye, it's actually just you.
If you feel....
A Breeze/Cold Spot: There's a chance you may have an air leak somewhere in your house - usually a window, chimney, or door. This could also account for cold spots. See if you can trace the origin of the breeze to one of these locations.
Finally, if you simply sense something awry, or if you are seeing/feeling anything that seems extremely unusual, consider the location of your home, as well as some of your household objects. If you live near power lines or have older electronics, there is a good chance that the EMFs, or electromagnetic fields, that are given off are affecting your mind, causing you to hallucinate. While this is rare, it's important to know that EMF Hypersensitivity could be negatively affecting your state of mind. It's best to check with an electrician if you believe this to be the case.