The origins of hums and bumps
Question No. 1
Hi Robert,
Your great Signal articles prompted me to write. You are the best!
My 14-year-old Hampton Bay ceiling fan stopped working. An electrician said that it is “kaput,” after he checked it.
I purchased a MinkaAir Supra with light kit and remote control.
Installed by an electrician a week ago and I hear a “hum.” A no-go in my quiet single-family dwelling. I have ordered a new ceiling fan with remote, a Journey White ceiling fan from Lamps Plus.
When I pay another electrician again this week, how do I know this new fan’s motor won’t “hum?”
Never thought this could be a problem.
New one not a DC however. I’m told that’s what I should order? Please help. Many thanks.
Joyce
Answer No. 1
Joyce,
Thank you for writing in. The best advice from my desk is to have the electrician install the fan and check it while he’s at the house.
I’m not familiar with the manufacturer of this fan, but there is also another thing to check out before having him take it down and return it.
Check the type of wall switch that is being used with this ceiling fan.
Some of the latest information on these states that one cannot use a dimmer switch with a ceiling fan, that it will ruin the motor.
A ceiling fan installed where the wall switch is a dimmer, will absolutely make noise especially on high, when it is requiring more energy.
Change out that switch to a regular, and the noise magically goes away.
This may or may not be the issue you are having, but it is worth checking out because it would be the simplest fix.
Should it buzz even after the switch check, then have him take it down immediately and return it.
If this new fan is a higher-end fan then the chances of it being bad is slim so he should be able to check balancing, wall switch, and that the correct amount of power is getting to the fan.
Best of luck.
Question No. 2
Hi Robert,
I live in Canyon Country and have a question about an annoying item I come across.
I can’t figure out what these things are, they seem to be everywhere.
They are at the grocery stores and many other businesses at the entrances.
They look like carpets and there are bumps on them, and even at one location it seems as though they’re made of concrete.
That market is so bad that I won’t even go there anymore, it’s too hard to pass the cart over them.
I’ve asked around and I get a lot of guesses, but no one has a concrete answer for me.
Do you know what these are and why they exist?
I’m guessing it has something to do with handicap, but don’t know what they’re for.
Madilyn N.
Answer No. 2
Madilyn,
They’re called “truncated mats.”
Their purpose is for the visually impaired, it allows them to feel the raised, truncated domes with their feet.
This, in combination with the tapping cane, can alert them to a different surface than the surrounding concrete side walk and an upcoming intersection or in the cases that you are referring to, the entrance to the parking lot.
It’s a safety feature for those that need it and for those of us who don’t, most are quite irritated by them especially when pushing a shopping cart with glass in it, over them.
It is one of those things that we can’t do anything about, it’s mandated in many places.
Sometimes just knowing what it is used for, can lessen the stress.
Good luck to you.
Robert Lamoureux has 38 years of experience as a general contractor, with separate licenses in electrical and plumbing contracting. He owns IMS Construction Inc. in Valencia.
His opinions are his own, not necessarily those of The Signal.
Opinions expressed in this column are not meant to replace the recommendations of a qualified contractor after that contractor has made a thorough visual inspection. Email questions to Robert at robert@imsconstruction.com.