The last few weeks, I have been hearing noises - loud noises - the minute I get into bed to go to sleep. The heating vent, at the foot of my bed, makes a clanging noise, quite loudly, whenever the heat comes on. In the living room area, it is as if people are moving furniture or pounding on the floor, or knocking, or hammering. Mind you, these noises NEVER take place when Im either sitting at my computer in the bedroom (and the heat comes on, but no noise), or watching TV in the living (no noise from the neighbors, no pounding, nothing); only when I turn out the lights and the minute I put my head on the pillow, is when the noises starts.

I live in very tiny studio in an old row house in Brooklyn (New York), and I don't know the history of the home. It is most definitely NOT noises of a house settling, as it is much too loud for that. Ive been scratching my head over what it could be, but Anyone has any insight as to what this may be? Thanks!

You don't hear those noises otherwise because your mind is preoccupied with other activities. Buy a white noise machine for use while you're in bed.

Go down to the basement some night and listen to the furnace or boiler, which may be clanking away for all the other apartments who are either turning their heat up, or turning it down for the night. Usually air vents don't clang so much; sure it isn't forced hot water radiators/baseboard? Someone hasn't been bleeding them of air.

No radiators, Joy, just a furnace; and the temperature is set at the same temp - even during the day.

Oh, no, Wondergirl, trust me - these noises are loud. The computer is next to the vent, and when the heat comes on - no noise, nothing. The noise in the vent is a banging/clanging sound, but any other time - TV is off, not on the computer - no noises occur. And when I go to bed, my fan is on every night and the noise - quite loud - can be heard OVER the noise of the fan. Knocking noises, also like heavy furniture being banged about, rather raucous and loud. But when Im awake, watching TV, studying, or otherwise, complete silence. Ive always been the type that has been bothered by the slightest of noises, and something like this, even in the early evening, would be distracting and annoying for me. But bedtime, THAT is when things begin. Any other theories?

Invite a friend over to "hear" it when it's silent and then to experience the loud noises. Then it won't be only you hearing them, and we can go from there.

Do you go to bed at the same time every night, so that these noises begin promptly at midnight (or whatever)? Or do they begin when you go to bed, no matter what time?

I may just do that, Wondergirl, just to make sure Im not crazy. I go to bed about the same time every night - between 10:15 and 10:45. And no sooner when Im in bed (enveloped in darkness, fan on, not yet falling asleep), THAT is when the noises begin. Mind you, this is also the same place where I have sensed that I am not alone, that there is a a 'presence', on quite a few occasions. It takes a whole heck of a lot to get me spooked, but those few times were NOT fun.

There are so many ways you can test these noises..
Jump out of bed and turn on the lights.
Stay up until midnight, then go to bed.
Go to bed but leave the lights on.
Turn out the lights but sleep on the couch.
I still think it's the furnace. You did say 'whenever the heat comes on.'
I've known furnaces that sounded like freight trains.

I would talk to some people that live around you and see if they have heard anything like it as well. Eliminate the natural causes first... then move onto the spiritual.