Last night, I experienced some seriously unnerving knocking at my balcony door while I was half asleep. It started around 12:30 am with a loud, deliberate knock that sent me jumping out of bed. I checked my Ring doorbell and cameras but saw nothing unusual, so I got my gun and thoroughly searched my apartment—balcony, windows, you name it. The knocking came back again at 2:30 am, and I was too scared to check this time. It happened once more right before dawn. I live on the 15th floor of a high-rise in a warm Southern city, and my building is pretty quiet with no neighbors above or below me right now. Since I'm slightly obsessed with finding rational explanations, I'm wondering if this could be due to thermal expansion, wind pressure, vibrations, or something else. Has anyone experienced anything similar, or does anyone work in building maintenance and can shed some light on this?
3 Answers
This sounds a lot like a bird pecking at your balcony door! I had a similar situation at work where a seagull was knocking on the glass, probably confused by its own reflection. It can be surprisingly loud! You might want to check if there's any nesting activity happening nearby—especially if you have pets that are reacting to it too. They can get active during the night or early morning.
It totally makes sense. I’ve had birds annoy me like that before, especially when they see their reflections!
I’d also look into the possibility of wind causing some knocking noises. Being on the 15th floor means you’re more exposed to wind currents. Sometimes loose panels or fittings can rattle and sound like knocking. My fridge makes random noises that used to freak me out until I figured it out—so maybe it’s a mechanical issue? I'd suggest setting up a camera on your balcony tonight to catch whatever is happening.
For real! The last thing you want is to be left guessing.
Great idea! Recording it will definitely help ease my mind.
You might want to consider the possibility of thermal expansion. I used to manage a facility and noticed similar knocking noises in new buildings during extreme heat or cold. It can take a while for buildings to settle, so it could just be the materials adjusting. I wouldn't panic—just maybe reach out to your building management.
Exactly! Settling noises can mimic knocking, especially in newer constructions.
That’s an interesting point! I wouldn’t think about that adding to the spooky feel, but it makes a lot of sense.
That's so logical! I didn’t even consider that birds could be active at this hour.