Ghost in the Machine

It was about six months after I had a new ceiling fan installed that the problems began. 

I woke up on a Saturday morning earlier than needed because the light was on over my bed. I fumbled around for the remote and turned it off, all while wondering how it got turned on.

My sister stayed with me that weekend, so when I went downstairs, I asked, "Did you turn on my light to wake me up?"    

I didn't think that was the case, and it wasn't.

Months went by, and I often switched off a fan or light that I had never turned on.

Eventually, I realized someone else in my condo complex must have the same fan with a remote set on the same radio frequency (RF) setting.

I asked my neighbors, "Did you have a new fan installed recently?"

Everyone said no.

Then, one Friday evening, I was out front talking with my new neighbor, Beth. She was telling me all about the strange behavior of the overhead fan in her bedroom.

"It just turns on," she said, "I don't understand it."

I smiled, "I know exactly what the problem is!"

I schooled her on the subject of radio frequencies and factory settings. The fix would be easy- just change the RF setting on the fan and the remote.

Actually, that part isn't that easy. It involves dropping the fan, pulling out the RF box, and making the adjustment. I mean it's easy for an electrician, not as easy for me.

Today, I had an electrician install a new AC unit. Brian is a friendly guy, who shows up when he says he will and cleans up any mess he makes.

He's so friendly that he dropped the fan and changed the RF for free.

Did you know there's actually a National Brian Day?

Officially, it's on March 6, but it seems like today is a great day to celebrate too.