Why is this happening in my house?

Question

I live in a 100 year old wooden structure. It has two stories. It has a concrete basement as a foundation. When you put a level on the floor it shows that the house is basically level. It looks pretty good. But all the rugs in the house crawl towards the east wall during the day on their own plus anything on the east wall on shelves falls off once in a while despite being on the back of the shelves. We are about a mile from a railroad track to the north east that is used heavily, a major highway is also between us and the RR. We are also built on an area that has a high water table and is about a half at mile from a small river. We are on the flood plain of that river even though the last time it flooded was over 50 years ago. The level shows that the house is basically level so what is happening here and is it something we should be worried about? We also have a sump pump dug in in the corner of the basement as when our neighbors irrigate... a small amount of moisture will come into the basement. This rug creep and the stuff falling off the east wall happens all year around. Any ideas?

Answer 1

Ms Crone, There is no way to get anything perfectly level. Even the Best laser level may get it very close but it'll still be off by a tiny amount. I would say the the East end of your home is slightly lower than the west end. the vibrations from the Railroad, the highway, machinery running in your home such as the washing machine, the refrigerator all add up to enough energy to get things to move a tiny bit at a time. Even just walking around the house will cause vibrations. These result in tiny movements of objects that after time add up to major movement of objects in the house. Even the act of turning the water on and off will set up vibrations throughout the house and most of these things are so innocuous that they never even get noticed. I know that you live in a very rural area, are their large hoofed animals? Their running will also set up vibrations as well in the house, especially with your having such a high water table which can propagate vibrations faster and further. A good solution to the movement of objects on shelves would be to use rubber matting on the shelves. As for the carpets, a little bit of double sided sticky tape will stop that in its tracks.

Good luck, Ms Crone *hugs*

Brightest Blessings,

Raji the Green Witch

Answer 2

Try to get a contractor to get a proper level on your house. You may have to have your house re leveled.

Answer 3

A physics major could probably give you the scientific terminology, hehe.  Even if the home is perfectly level, the constant vibrations from the railroad would be enough to make loose objects move in your home.  With a high water table, ground vibrations will travel even farther.  The ground vibrations are 'waves'.. and they will carry loose objects.

For example, you can take a large dish, or pot, pour some water in it, and put a pat of butter, or anything that will float in it.  Now, rhythmically tap the water at one spot on the rim of the dish/pot.  You will find that the butter, or other floating object, will work its way to the opposite side of where you are tapping the water.  You don't have to splash... you don't have to work hard at it... just a constant, even tapping, will be enough to cause it to move over.  That's what is happening in your home.

With that said... you can't check the level of a whole house by setting a carpenter's level on the floor.  I've had to relevel mobile homes that a set up crew swore was level (according to their 8ft level), that when I checked with a water level, was actually out by 2 inches, over the length of the home.  Laser levels have dropped considerably in price, and would be easier to use inside a home, than a water level.  You can even use most laser levels to check the walls for plumb.

You may want to consult a structural engineer, or at least have a home inspector check out the house, since it is 100 years old, and has been subject to constant vibration for a number of years.  They'll want to look for supports that have shifted, perhaps nails that have backed out, etc.

Good Luck

Answer 4

You know something Ms. Crone?  Mine is almost 80 years old, level as far as a 4' level can tell, lol 100 yards from the little big water, not a heavy road in sight - and still, balls roll to the east, spilled water flows that way also.  And, though I am not a practicing witch, I am one for sure, and this place is haunted, not only by my father who died right here in front of me, but by others that I have never met in life.  I'd like to know the answer to this too.  Maybe like everything else, it's just a little off kilter, not too much to tell, but just enough to cause a sensation.

Answer 5

its haunted

Answer 6

How big a level are you using?  Because something that's "basically level" over a short distance can be very out of level over a longer distance.  

For example, if a floor is 16 feet long and in a small section it's 1/4" out of level, by the end of the floor it could be about 3" out of level.  

Answer 7

I'm really not sure. How long have you lived in the home? I know the home is 100 years old, but are you new to the home? Did this just recently begin to happen or has it been going on for a long time. For some reason it feels like it has to do with water and the vibrations from the RR. Working together to loosen the soil. I think you might want to call someone in to check it out. You make have a cracked pipe somewhere under the house. Make sure you have no water running and then go look at your water meter. Some have a leak detector. But if not if the meter is moving you have a leak. It may be small enough not to get noticed,, but over time it is creating some land shifting.