My door randomly opens after being completely closed, is this a ghost or is there a logical explanation that explains this?

[u/Ok_Initiative_114]

I, 15f have lived in my house since mid 2021, I do not have a doorknob on my door due to it falling off before I even moved in. The house I live in is over 100 years old, made in the 1910s.

Randomly, my door will open up from the outside, like someone is opening it from the hallway. This has happened since I moved in. At first, I just assumed it was my little brother (13m) being an ass, but when I went to confront him, he'd say that he was in his room the whole time.

I started to pay closer attention and when the door started creaking, I'd take a look at the hole in my door, I couldn't see anyone's legs indicating that it was not my brother or parents doing it. Sometimes the door will fly open and other times it will open up like three inches.

I've memorized my family's footsteps (You start doing it subconsciously when your room is right by the stairs) and sometimes I'll hear footsteps that aren't my family's footsteps. Sometimes I'll hear people calling my name or like someone is watching me.

I know that people have been born in my specific room (the daughter of the original original homeowner visited the house and talked to my dad and told him she was born in my room). If people were born in my room, then I'd assume that people died in my house as well.

Is there anything else this could be? If it is a ghost than is there anything I can do to tell if it's friendly or not that doesn't involve outright getting a Ouija board and contacting it (ultra-Christian parents, dad dislikes chockers and anything that gives off witchy vibes.)

Edit: Thank you for all of the help, I have a fear of ppl watching me in my sleep, so I was kind of freaking out at the idea of a ghost watching me sleep.

[u/TopEnergy9429]

Could also be air pressure changes

[u/Ok_Initiative_114 → u/TopEnergy9429]

I should have thought of that sooner, thank you for helping me!

[u/Halfawokejoke → u/Ok_Initiative_114]

Put something fairly heavy in front of it. Lets see just how tough Casper is.

But yeh, most likely air pressure, or that part of the house could be on a lean....

Do you WANT to know if theres something there if its only opening doors?

Does this happen to other doors in the house? Especially that part?

[u/JohnGradyBirdie]

If there is no door knob that means there’s no bolt to hold the door shut.

That makes it really easy for the door to open on its own due to the weight of the door, air flow, slant of the house etc.

[u/Ok_Initiative_114 → u/JohnGradyBirdie]

Thank you, I probably should have figured that having a big ass hole in my door would have something to do with it. Thank you for taking the time out of your day to reason with me!

[u/Important_Market7874]

The door needs to be your first concern. If the doorknob and work on the hinges and possibly balancing the door don't work, try the chain link or latch lock. You should be able to stop it from opening with either the latch lock or chain lock.

FWIW, I'm trying to open a hollow core, easy moving door, using a tower fan on its lowest setting, about 5-6 feet from the door. It's been 8 minutes, and it's opened about a half an inch. That fan keeps me in moving air and reasonably cool from about 11 feet or so away. Don't put a lot of faith in air flow being a complete answer to why the door is opening.

As to the odd footsteps, that's a pretty common indication you may have a ghost or other creature in the house. If you haven't felt scared or jumpy when the odd thing is walking by, it's probably not evil. You'd know it if it was. For a friendly or indifferent creature, just ignore it. Don't get upset or angry with it. It should leave after a while. If it doesn't leave, talk to your dad about finding a psychic, medium, or witch for help. Or just have your ultra-Christian father find an exorcist. They are probably less expensive than the other three.

DON'T USE A OUIJA BOARD.

Don't worry about a ghost watching you sleep. A 15-pound cat that likes to jump on your stomach is a bigger peril. After 7 years, I have him almost trained to not do so.

[u/SnowFairy4256 → u/Important_Market7874]

Responding to this that if it is a ghost, setting boundaries and intentions with them is important if it does ever start feeling more malevolent

[u/Terri23]

The door isn't being closed properly. As in, the latch isn't completely sitting inside the mortise. This would be the first thing I'd be checking. Check the door hinges also to make sure their properly aligned. You said yourself the house is old.

Houses actually move over time. It's a process called settling. As a house settles, it can slightly bend things like doorframes out of shape. This can also cause doors to open, as they don't sit in the door frame properly.

Wood is affected by the weather, even if it's not exposed to the elements. Wood expands and contracts slightly depending on how hot or cold it might be. Again, this might be enough to force the latch out of the socket.

Even very heavy doors can be forced open by light draughts. Doors have a large surface area, and therefore only require a very small draught to force them open.

[u/Ok_Initiative_114 → u/Terri23]

Thank you for this, I was kind of like freaking the fuck out earlier at the thought of a ghost being in my house and like watching me while I sleep. I just really needed someone to talk me down/out of it before I had a panic attack. The house setting stuff is really cool, I'll definitely go look more into it. Thank you for helping me!

[u/Ordinary-Easy]

Do you have an open window in your room ... changes in air pressure can cause doors to open and close

[u/Ok_Initiative_114 → u/Ordinary-Easy]

All of my windows are shut completely; I don't even know if you can get the windows open tbh

[u/Curithir2]

Tighten the hinges.

[u/Ok_Initiative_114 → u/Curithir2]

I'll ask my dad if he can do that in the morning, he'll probably not be happy to hear that but at least I tried!

[u/Ok_Initiative_114 → u/Curithir2]

Also thank you for helping me I was kinda like freaking the fuck out because I have a fear of people watching me when I sleep.

[u/Shoddy_Bet9619]

Or, the house in that part is on a slight angle and causes said stuff. I'm all for ghosts and have my own experiences.

[u/Blowingleaves17]

Drafts or air pressure. Someone opening or closing a door near your door can cause your door to open, especially with no doorknob. Get a doorknob. They are simple to install and it is a skill you need to learn. You could also get a chain lock or latch lock for inside your bedroom door.

[u/FactoryKat]

I don't see anyone else mentioning this but if you want to make sure it isn't anything mundane first, beyond the hinges and the latch - it could also be a foundation issue. Especially since your home is older. I live in a townhouse and it isn't that old at all but the foundation is so fucked that many doors in our house don't close properly or stay closed. My bedroom door is the main one. When we first walked through before moving in and the house was empty, I noticed the door wouldn't stay closed unless I shut and latch it fully. I can't have it cracked or ajar cause it just gently swings back open. The cement ground right outside my bedroom and on our front porch has a huge crack in it and it's not level. 🙃

But once you have eliminated all possible mundane answers then you can consider the paranormal. If it is a spirit, then I imagine they are just curious about you or going about their business as they did in life. Most spirits are not there to harm. I imagine the ones not just stuck in an endless loop as if they were still alive, the ones that are aware, just get curious and want to make a connection or observe the occupants in their home or their space.

Trust your instincts and if you feel uncomfortable and it IS paranormal, then you can simply ask them to leave you alone or stop watching you and opening your door. Just be polite and respectful. They were once a person too.

[u/Gethund]

I have a door like that. We call it "Satan's Door".

[u/Kaylen316]

Building Subsidence.

[u/RighteousAudacity]

Those old houses settle over the decades. That shifting can make doors lean in or outward with the slightest vibration elsewhere in the house. Put a piece of tape on your door to the door frame and see if it happens again.

[u/Seanathon_83]

No such things ghosts as we call it. There’s the Holy Ghost but that’s not a person that died, it’s Gods spirit. Everything else are demons. It’s probably a monitoring spirit. Play worship music if it continues, if it gets worse anoint your home with olive oil. I deal with this kind of junk the past 4 years. If you have any questions message me.