Ghost Hunters waste too much time hunting ghosts. That may sound contradictory but it is true. Most so-called paranormal events turn out to be something that is easily explained, yet the first thing the investigator does when arriving on scene is start looking for some paranormal explanation. The time would be better spent ruling out the mundane before considering the paranormal since this is most likely where the resolution will be. found This outline will provide some guidelines for that first walk through of the location.
Initial Visit
By now it is assumed you have made the initial contact, and all waivers and confidentiality statements are in place. This discussion will not cover those aspects of the investigation. It takes up with your first visit to the scene. It also assumes by this point you have already have had a chance to research the location history and have taken into consideration anything that may be applicable in those regards.
I would recommend that this visit be done in daylight when it is easier to see any items which may contribute to the case. Signs of movement, scrapes, or rubbed edges are much easier to spot in the daytime than in the diffused beam of a flashlight at night.
Begin by asking questions of the client. You need to find out exactly what it is he hears or sees. You need to know the details too, what was the weather like? Windy outside? Temperature? Rain or snow? Even the weather conditions 48 hours before could have a bearing on the case. Then consider where everyone was located in the house at the time the witness experienced the event. Any way any of them could be responsible? Any pets in the house? Evidence of mice or other pests? Then the witness himself will need to be considered. Does he seem reliable? Any signs he might be fabricating the story? Some do, for whatever reason. Then there is the time factor. What time did the event occur in the past? Does it seem to have a set period? Might there be an optimum time for you to monitor the scene? You may need to find out add ional information as well based on the particulars of this case. The more information you can obtain the better.
Have the client take you around and show you the location as he describes what he saw. Keep alert for any reflections or shiny surfaces that may have contributed to the event. If his claim involves sound, keep aware as you walk through of any squeaky floor boards or other noises you may generate. Also note if the furnace, refrigerator or water tank make any unusual sounds when they run. Is there the sound of traffic outside? There is no way a report such as this can cover every eventuality; you will simply need to be aware of what you encounter and use your best judgment as to whether or not it might contribute to the report.
Beginning the Investigation
One of the most frequent causes of unexplained noises is temperature. Expansion and contraction of beams, pipes, or other objects in the building can cause a wide variety of sounds. There are several things that should be done to check for these causes before going too far into the investigation. The hot water tank and associated plumbing is probably one of the easiest. Begin by checking all faucets and pipes which can be easily accessed. Don't forget the dish washer or laundry room either. Make certain all pipes are cold; no hot water has recently been drawn. Account for all personnel. Make certain the furnace is not set to come on. TV and radio should be off; no source of noise should exist.
Once this is done, with the client present, run hot water from each location. Listen carefully for any creaking or other unexpected sounds. The client should also listen and if anything is heard confirm this is not what he is claiming to be his ghost. Once the hot water has been drawn, continue to listen as the pipes cool. As they cool they will contract. This might cause thumps and squeaks as they slide through hangers.
While we are on the subject of plumbing, flush each toilet. Make sure they operate properly and completely shut off when the tank is full. A leaking flapper valve will cause the tank to periodically refill. That makes unexpected sounds. And at night, believe it or not, this has been attributed to a ghost by more than one witness.
No ghosts yet? Time to check the furnace. In the same manner insure a quiet environment. Then turn on the furnace and allow it to run until it has completely heated all ductwork or radiators throughout the house. Listen for any unusual sounds as it runs. Then turn it off and listen again while things cool off. Also check for any other sounds which may be caused by vibration in other areas of the house while the blower or pumps are running.
Appliances are next on the list. Listen while the freezer or refrigerator runs through a cycle. Internal fans or poor damping on the compressor may cause odd sounds sometimes. While you are there, check the condenser coils. Dust can accumulate which restricts airflow. This may cause strange noises at times.
Another frequent source of noises is the house itself. Two areas are particularly noted for this. First, if the house has aluminum or vinyl siding temperature changes outside can cause creaking sounds as the panels expand or contract. This is most common during times of rapid temperature change such as a passage of a cold front. Extreme cold can also cause rafters and wall studs to contract. This often manifests itself as a single loud boom coming from the walls of the house itself. It sounds like something has just hit the house, yet there is no physical evidence.
Other things to check are exterior antennas, chimneys, even nearby tree limbs. Any of these may create noise if wind blows through them. These sounds may be howls, thumps, whistles, or a rattle. The possibilities are varied.
Continuing The Investigation
So by now the ghost cannot be attributed to the plumbing, the temperature, or the furnace. There are still many other possibilities, and some still involve these items too. Doors that open or close? Examine them closely. Are they level and not binding? Do they move easily, maybe too easily where the slightest air movement might cause them to open? Do they rattle if they are latched? Finally, are there any pets in the house that might be responsible for disturbing them? And don't limit it to pets; one case on file eventually determined the "ghost" was a mouse that was able to push a cabinet door open as it ran out of the cupboard.
Other causes for doors opening might be air movement when the furnace comes on. Or maybe wind blowing in around a window frame. Appliances can cause movement as well simply by vibrations into the framework of the house. Similar activity has been attributed to traffic outside causing shifting of items in the house.
Then there is the ground itself. Are there any cracks outside in the soil which indicate ground slippage or subsidence? These have been found to be the cause in a few cases. Usually though if this is a factor cracks will be present in the house itself, especially around the foundation. But an investigation should be made just to be sure.
But my ghost turns the lights off and on..... That is a fairly common occurrence; however it may not be paranormal in nature. The first thing to do is determine which lights or appliances are affected. Do they have anything in common? Do they share the same circuit(s) in the house? Turn off various circuit breakers one at a time to make that determination. If they do use the same circuit, there is a possibility there may be a problem with the wiring or circuit breaker. You may want to consult an electrician to do some testing to make determination at this point.
Lights and electrical devices that fail in some manner may indicate the problem lies in the power distribution to the house. Probably the most common cause there is a loss of the ground or return to the transformer which causes extreme voltage fluctuations. This will require the power company to check or repair. However if you have sufficient skills you can use a voltmeter to check the line voltage at various outlets in the house. In the U.S. that should be 115 - 125 volts A.C. Measure this while turning on and off various appliances in the house. It should not change more than one or two volts. If it does, consult an electrician or your power company.
If it is a television or electronic device that is affected, does it have a remote control? Devices with a remote are never really turned off even when they appear to be so. That is because there are circuits left on to monitor for activity from the remote that turns them back on. Because of this they are susceptible to electrical noise or interference which might activate them. You may want to do an EM Field scan to check for anything along these lines which may be responsible. Also any device that utilizes a timer needs to be checked. Does someone simply have an event set for the device to come on? (It's happened.) Timers can malfunction causing the device to turn on or off unexpectedly.
Wrapping up the Investigation.
The items and suggestions here are by no means complete. None of these are paranormal in nature, and that is the point of this essay. You have got to rule out the mundane before even considering the paranormal. Your case probably has many other possible explanations besides these which would fit the non-paranormal as well. You will need to explore carefully, using the evidence provided by the client to determine what those might be.
One more factor to consider as you conduct the initial investigation is the client himself. We don't like to think there are hoaxers and frauds out there, but they do exist. Pay particular attention as you interview and discuss things with the witness. Are there discrepancies in the story? Do some details change? Is he trying to steer the investigation toward a particular outcome? Has the client already made up his mind the place is haunted? Does it appear he has a reason or motive to do so? What exactly does he expect to happen as the result of your investigation? The answers to these questions may point to a hoaxer which is a waste of your time and his. If that is the case, your best choice is just to thank him and move on.
But if the results remain vague, if the mundane explanations fail to prove out, then maybe it's time to move on to the next step. By now you should have some idea what exactly you are looking for and where to concentrate your search. The next visit is where to begin the research into the possibility that maybe you have a real case here. Use what you have earned so far to formulate your next steps. Collect data and keep the client informed as you go. Keep an open mind. This doesn't mean that later on a mundane explanation isn't possible, only that so far you haven't found one. It still doesn't prove the paranormal either. Keep investigating.
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