Electrical Problems, or the boogie man? - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

cookmo · 10-15-2006, 01:58 PM

So I moved into this new house a few weeks ago. When I went to look at it, I just knew it was were I belonged. It is so peaceful here.

When the cable guy came to hook it up, he needed to go into the basement, which is totally empty. When I went to take him down there, the lights were on already. I thought it was weird, but no biggie. We had some problems, and the cable guy needed to come back out. Again he went down there, and the lights were on. Alittle bit more weird, because I know I had turned them off, and there had not been anyone down there. We had a few more problems, and he came out a third time, this happened again.

It got cold a few nights ago, and I needed to turn on the heat. I couldnt get it to work, so I needed to go into the basement a flip the breaker. I tried to flip on the light at the top of the steps, but I couldnt get it to come on. I got a flashlight and started to go down anyway, and when I got to the fourth step, the lights flipped on by themselves. I said fuck-it and got some extra blankets till the morning.

The basement isnt finished, so it echoes down there. I swear at night I can hear someone walking up and down the steps. I know there is no one down there though cause it is totally empty, and the door is padlocked on the outside.It was so bad the other night I sat up untill dawn afraid to sleep.

I had a friend over last night and was giving him the nickel tour. I opened the basement door, and low and behold the light was on. We went down then came back up and I made him go back down and flipp off the light. I checked before I went to bed to make sure it was off.

just a few minutes ago I opened the door and peeked and the light was on, which is why I am posting this. I couldnt get the switch at the top of the steps to work, and the others are at the bottom, so I left them on, cause I aint going down there.

Please tell me this is an electrical problem, I'm getting so freaked out!

Grasshopper Green · 10-15-2006, 02:05 PM

Can you get an electrician to come over and check things? You probably won't know for sure unless you get someone over to look at it.

cookmo · 10-15-2006, 02:18 PM

Yeah, just so happens my step dad is an electrician, but I cant get a hold of him yet. Soon though, hopefully

Grasshopper Green · 10-15-2006, 02:19 PM

Let us know what he says!

Lady Sage · 10-15-2006, 02:29 PM

If not at least it sounds friendly and helpful and maybe even playful to boot. If it is keep it! It will make good company.

shakran · 10-15-2006, 02:51 PM

It sounds to me like you have a bad switch. Is it by any chance a 3 way? (2 switches running the same light, one at the top of the stairs and one somewhere in the basement) Sometimes when one of the 3 ways goes bad it does bizarre things to the other one, things which sound pretty much exactly like what's happening to you. It's probably just a simple switch replacement.

That said, when was the house built?

cookmo · 10-15-2006, 03:26 PM

There are a ton of lights down there, in fact there are a ton of lights in this whole house. I've joked that it's going to cost me a fortune in light bulbs! So I'm not really sure yet if its a 3 way switch, but I think it is.

The house was built in 97, and it sat empty for two years before we bought it. But the house is goegeous and well below market value. It's a little out in the country though, so thats why we figured it sat for so long. Its a good 20 minute drive to the next decent sized city.

So this is provably my mind playing with me. But I opened the door to see if the light was still on, and it was. I decided to turn it off. I tried the switch at the top of the stairs, and it worked this time. But when I turned off the light there was this big noise! So I flipped it back on real quick and shut the door. The noise stopped. The only things down there are the furnace, and the sump pump(sp?). I know it wasn't the furnace making the noise, do sump pumps make a lot of noise? I have never had one before.

Lady Sage · 10-15-2006, 03:31 PM

I have a sump pump and no its not noisy. A little buzz from time to time or a gurgle as it empties itself but thats it.

DaElf · 10-17-2006, 08:38 AM

Who do you have living with you? If you have a pratical joker in the house you might want to look in that direction too

The situation with the electricity could be some of the wires are crossed or that the basement lights are connected to other light switches throughout the house. The actual integrity of the romex should be fine though unless you're living in a coastal town. You can probably figure this out on your own I would'nt spend 70 dollars an hour on a electrition unless you know you need to.

Tell us more about the walking up and down the stairs at night and more about the BIG NOISE! When you turned the light off.

Grasshopper Green · 10-19-2006, 01:47 PM

So...has your stepdad looked at it yet?

shakran · 10-20-2006, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cookmo

The only things down there are the furnace, and the sump pump(sp?). I know it wasn't the furnace making the noise, do sump pumps make a lot of noise? I have never had one before.

Sump pumps can make a hell of a lot of noise if they're big enough. My old house had a big water entry problem that a normal sump pump couldn't keep up with, so I put a 1hp jet pump in there. Loud as hell but it'd empty the entire sump pit in 10 seconds

cookmo · 10-20-2006, 07:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Medusa

So...has your stepdad looked at it yet?

No, he is in Vegas till next Thursday. Lol, I havent been back down there since!

ShaniFaye · 10-21-2006, 01:29 PM

you should go down there with a tape recorder and ask if there is anyone there that would like to communicate with you.

sorry....If I thought my basment was haunted I'd be down there all the time hehehe

Johnny Rotten · 10-21-2006, 09:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cookmo

The house was built in 97, and it sat empty for two years before we bought it. But the house is goegeous and well below market value. It's a little out in the country though, so thats why we figured it sat for so long. Its a good 20 minute drive to the next decent sized city.

I would recommend finding out about its previous owners, and about the history of the land on which your house is built.

Brewmaniac · 10-21-2006, 09:55 PM

Cookmo, It's definitly the boogie man! Get out of there immediately, and I'm just a smartass! Good luck dear, it sounds like a nice house with a bad switch.

raeanna74 · 10-22-2006, 07:19 AM

It's very LIKELY an electrical problem. I would be worried about a fire from electrical issues. As soon as step-dad gets back get him on it. It sounds to me like a short or bad switch. We had a little goofiness with the lights in one room of our house. When we had the wiring redone they found that the one room had actually been wired backwards. The box the wiring was in and the insulation around the wires was all melted. We were lucky not to have a fire. Get yourself a fire extinguisher or two and some smoke detectors if you don't have many ASAP. Put one in your stairwell to the basement.

Good Luck.

DaElf · 10-22-2006, 01:34 PM

damn it I wanted to hear more about the noises.

Deltona Couple · 10-30-2006, 01:22 PM

If you have a switch at the top and bottom of the stairs, and both switches normally will operate the light, then they are both 3-way switches. You said it was empty for about 2 years, when was the last time it had an exterminator? Ants LOVE electrical boxes, and if enough of them get caught up in it, they will short the switch, and turn on the lights. I had a similar problem in my shed, and it turned out to be ants in the switch.

hagatha · 11-08-2006, 08:45 AM

Any updates on this one????

beavstrokinoff · 11-22-2006, 10:35 AM

Sounds like a Boogey man. Either that or a shitty switch.

analog · 11-22-2006, 03:26 PM

The pipes run in the attic in such a way that when water flows through them, the movement of the pipes on the wood sounds exactly like someone pacing back and forth, right above my kitchen area.

It freaked me out a bit until it'd happened enough times that I realized it happened every time I flushed the toilet near my room... once I had that thought, I stood there and listened to the "walking" go away, then went anf flushed again and heard it start back up. So, no ghoasties in the attic. I'm sure there's something you're missing that's causing the "walking" sound... good luck finding it, it drove me nuts until I found mine out.

That said, i'm deathly afraid of basements. *shudders*

10-15-2006, 01:58 PM	#1 (permalink)
cookmo Insane Location: Ohio	Electrical Problems, or the boogie man? So I moved into this new house a few weeks ago. When I went to look at it, I just knew it was were I belonged. It is so peaceful here. When the cable guy came to hook it up, he needed to go into the basement, which is totally empty. When I went to take him down there, the lights were on already. I thought it was weird, but no biggie. We had some problems, and the cable guy needed to come back out. Again he went down there, and the lights were on. Alittle bit more weird, because I know I had turned them off, and there had not been anyone down there. We had a few more problems, and he came out a third time, this happened again. It got cold a few nights ago, and I needed to turn on the heat. I couldnt get it to work, so I needed to go into the basement a flip the breaker. I tried to flip on the light at the top of the steps, but I couldnt get it to come on. I got a flashlight and started to go down anyway, and when I got to the fourth step, the lights flipped on by themselves. I said fuck-it and got some extra blankets till the morning. The basement isnt finished, so it echoes down there. I swear at night I can hear someone walking up and down the steps. I know there is no one down there though cause it is totally empty, and the door is padlocked on the outside.It was so bad the other night I sat up untill dawn afraid to sleep. I had a friend over last night and was giving him the nickel tour. I opened the basement door, and low and behold the light was on. We went down then came back up and I made him go back down and flipp off the light. I checked before I went to bed to make sure it was off. just a few minutes ago I opened the door and peeked and the light was on, which is why I am posting this. I couldnt get the switch at the top of the steps to work, and the others are at the bottom, so I left them on, cause I aint going down there. Please tell me this is an electrical problem, I'm getting so freaked out!

10-15-2006, 02:05 PM	#2 (permalink)
Grasshopper Green ...is a comical chap Location: Where morons reign supreme	Can you get an electrician to come over and check things? You probably won't know for sure unless you get someone over to look at it. __________________ "They say that patriotism is the last refuge to which a scoundrel clings; steal a little and they throw you in jail, steal a lot and they make you king" Formerly Medusa

10-15-2006, 02:19 PM	#4 (permalink)
Grasshopper Green ...is a comical chap Location: Where morons reign supreme	Let us know what he says! __________________ "They say that patriotism is the last refuge to which a scoundrel clings; steal a little and they throw you in jail, steal a lot and they make you king" Formerly Medusa

10-15-2006, 02:29 PM	#5 (permalink)
Lady Sage Mistress of Mayhem Location: Canton, Ohio	If not at least it sounds friendly and helpful and maybe even playful to boot. If it is keep it! It will make good company. __________________ If only closed minds came with closed mouths. Minds are like parachutes, they function best when open. It`s Easier to Change a Condom Than a Diaper Yes, the rumors are true... I actually AM a Witch.

10-15-2006, 03:31 PM	#8 (permalink)
Lady Sage Mistress of Mayhem Location: Canton, Ohio	I have a sump pump and no its not noisy. A little buzz from time to time or a gurgle as it empties itself but thats it. __________________ If only closed minds came with closed mouths. Minds are like parachutes, they function best when open. It`s Easier to Change a Condom Than a Diaper Yes, the rumors are true... I actually AM a Witch.

10-15-2006, 02:18 PM	#3 (permalink)
cookmo Insane Location: Ohio	Yeah, just so happens my step dad is an electrician, but I cant get a hold of him yet. Soon though, hopefully

10-15-2006, 02:51 PM	#6 (permalink)
shakran Tone.	It sounds to me like you have a bad switch. Is it by any chance a 3 way? (2 switches running the same light, one at the top of the stairs and one somewhere in the basement) Sometimes when one of the 3 ways goes bad it does bizarre things to the other one, things which sound pretty much exactly like what's happening to you. It's probably just a simple switch replacement. That said, when was the house built?

10-15-2006, 03:26 PM	#7 (permalink)
cookmo Insane Location: Ohio	There are a ton of lights down there, in fact there are a ton of lights in this whole house. I've joked that it's going to cost me a fortune in light bulbs! So I'm not really sure yet if its a 3 way switch, but I think it is. The house was built in 97, and it sat empty for two years before we bought it. But the house is goegeous and well below market value. It's a little out in the country though, so thats why we figured it sat for so long. Its a good 20 minute drive to the next decent sized city. So this is provably my mind playing with me. But I opened the door to see if the light was still on, and it was. I decided to turn it off. I tried the switch at the top of the stairs, and it worked this time. But when I turned off the light there was this big noise! So I flipped it back on real quick and shut the door. The noise stopped. The only things down there are the furnace, and the sump pump(sp?). I know it wasn't the furnace making the noise, do sump pumps make a lot of noise? I have never had one before.

10-17-2006, 08:38 AM	#9 (permalink)
DaElf Tilted Location: Washington	Who do you have living with you? If you have a pratical joker in the house you might want to look in that direction too The situation with the electricity could be some of the wires are crossed or that the basement lights are connected to other light switches throughout the house. The actual integrity of the romex should be fine though unless you're living in a coastal town. You can probably figure this out on your own I would'nt spend 70 dollars an hour on a electrition unless you know you need to. Tell us more about the walking up and down the stairs at night and more about the BIG NOISE! When you turned the light off.

10-19-2006, 01:47 PM	#10 (permalink)
Grasshopper Green ...is a comical chap Location: Where morons reign supreme	So...has your stepdad looked at it yet? __________________ "They say that patriotism is the last refuge to which a scoundrel clings; steal a little and they throw you in jail, steal a lot and they make you king" Formerly Medusa

10-21-2006, 01:29 PM	#13 (permalink)
ShaniFaye Submit to me, you know you want to Location: Lilburn, Ga	you should go down there with a tape recorder and ask if there is anyone there that would like to communicate with you. sorry....If I thought my basment was haunted I'd be down there all the time hehehe __________________ *I want the diabetic plan that comes with rollover carbs. I dont like the unused one expiring at midnite!!*

10-21-2006, 09:55 PM	#15 (permalink)
Brewmaniac Searching for the perfect brew!	Cookmo, It's definitly the boogie man! Get out of there immediately, and I'm just a smartass! Good luck dear, it sounds like a nice house with a bad switch. __________________ "That's a joke... I say, that's a joke, son"

10-22-2006, 07:19 AM	#16 (permalink)
raeanna74 I'm not a blonde! I'm knot! I'm knot! I'm knot! Location: Upper Michigan	It's very LIKELY an electrical problem. I would be worried about a fire from electrical issues. As soon as step-dad gets back get him on it. It sounds to me like a short or bad switch. We had a little goofiness with the lights in one room of our house. When we had the wiring redone they found that the one room had actually been wired backwards. The box the wiring was in and the insulation around the wires was all melted. We were lucky not to have a fire. Get yourself a fire extinguisher or two and some smoke detectors if you don't have many ASAP. Put one in your stairwell to the basement. Good Luck. __________________ "Always learn the rules so that you can break them properly." Dalai Lama My Karma just ran over your Dogma.

10-22-2006, 01:34 PM	#17 (permalink)
DaElf Tilted Location: Washington	damn it I wanted to hear more about the noises. __________________ I'm sitting at my desk right now waiting for you to reply to the above message.

10-30-2006, 01:22 PM	#18 (permalink)
Deltona Couple Addict Location: Spring, Texas	If you have a switch at the top and bottom of the stairs, and both switches normally will operate the light, then they are both 3-way switches. You said it was empty for about 2 years, when was the last time it had an exterminator? Ants LOVE electrical boxes, and if enough of them get caught up in it, they will short the switch, and turn on the lights. I had a similar problem in my shed, and it turned out to be ants in the switch. __________________ "It is not that I have failed, but that I have found 10,000 ways that it DOESN'T work!" --Thomas Edison

11-08-2006, 08:45 AM	#19 (permalink)
hagatha Addict	Any updates on this one???? __________________ Thats the last time I trust the strangest people I ever met....H. Simpson

11-22-2006, 10:35 AM	#20 (permalink)
beavstrokinoff Tilted	Sounds like a Boogey man. Either that or a shitty switch.

11-22-2006, 03:26 PM	#21 (permalink)
analog Banned	The pipes run in the attic in such a way that when water flows through them, the movement of the pipes on the wood sounds exactly like someone pacing back and forth, right above my kitchen area. It freaked me out a bit until it'd happened enough times that I realized it happened every time I flushed the toilet near my room... once I had that thought, I stood there and listened to the "walking" go away, then went anf flushed again and heard it start back up. So, no ghoasties in the attic. I'm sure there's something you're missing that's causing the "walking" sound... good luck finding it, it drove me nuts until I found mine out. That said, i'm deathly afraid of basements. shudders Last edited by analog; 11-22-2006 at 03:28 PM..