Tuesday, November 3, 2015

Hum Update November 2015

We continue to hear from people in Calgary and Edmonton who are noticing a hum.  Frequently, similar words and phrases are used to describe that they are hearing:

  • the hum sounds like an engine idling in the distance
  • the hum has also been described as sounding like a train locomotive idling
  • there seems to be pressure in my ear (or ears) as well as there being a hum sound present
  • the hum appears to be heard wherever there is an electrical grid, even in remote areas
  • the hum is louder at night than in the daytime
  • when the hum is heard inside, it seldom can be heard outside
  • the hum seems to have started when smart meters were activated
  • the hum is a "low" sound (often around 40 hertz)
  • some people can hear the hum while others cannot
  • there are some people who can feel a vibration associated with the hum as well as hearing it, while some others notice a vibration while not hearing a hum-
  • sometimes there is a "thrumming" sound accompanying the hum, and/or the hum sometimes sounds like it is "wavering"


We've determined that the hum is a real phenomenon and is one that can be recorded.  The working hypothesis is that the hum is man-made, or "mechanical" in nature.  As far as we know, low frequency hums around 40 hertz do not naturally occur in nature.

The challenge has been determining the source, or sources, of the hum.  That has been the puzzle that has been difficult to crack.  We welcome continuing to hear from people who have leads and ideas in this regard.  We request that these are based in scientific possibility and are grounded with facts in some way.

Thank you to all that have been in touch with us.  Please continue to do so.

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

I hear this humming sound right now, has been constant for the last 2 days. Located just west of stampede station

Anonymous said...

What you describe woke me up tonight. It was causing my bookshelf to vibrate, which was causing my crystal glasses sitting there to ring. The hum is most disturbing. We live by Aspen woods in the SW.

D. Negrey said...

We have had other reports of a hum disturbing people in Aspen Woods.

D. Negrey said...

@mass_disections are you still hearing the hum?

D. Negrey said...

Apologies for the late replies, everyone. Thank you for sharing your comments and experiences.

Anonymous said...

The hum is intermittent and most noticeable in the evening, and comes from North and west of our house. We live in McQueen community in Edmonton.

D. Negrey said...

Thanks, Anon for the info from Edmonton.

Anonymous said...

I recently moved to copperfield area in Calgary and I hear this humming constantly no one else house can hear it. Drives me nuts. Waving, throbing hum, worse at night. Sounds like someones car idling 24/7.

I am going to go insane if I cannot find source.

G said...

I recently moved to copperfield area in Calgary and I hear this humming constantly no one else house can hear it. Drives me nuts. Waving, throbing hum, worse at night. Sounds like someones car idling 24/7.

I am going to go insane if I cannot find source.

Anonymous said...

I am in Panorama Hills and I'm hearing and feeling it all day....but definitely worse at night...it is a low frequency rumble that sounds like a train in the distance but it never goes away....making me crazy....I'm so glad that I found this site so I know I'm not alone. What the hell is this???

Anonymous said...

A waving, throbbing low frequency rumble is the best description....very irritating and someone needs to figure this out!!

Anonymous said...

Your description really hits home with me...a waving, throbbing low frequency rumble in the distance....like a train locomotive....I'm in Panorama Hills and it's making me crazy too!!

D. Negrey said...

Remember to contact the utility companies when you hear a hum in your home. Some people who have had the utility companies come out have discovered solutions for their particular cases. It's important to go through the steps with gas, power and water.

Unknown said...

Been hearing the same hum in the hamptons community in Edmonton since early January 2016. It starts late afternoon and continues until around midnight. I can also hear it very faintly outside but it's significantly louder in the house. So far I've been unable to narrow down the direction its coming from.

D. Negrey said...

Thanks for letting us know, Dean. What kind of hum is it: low, high, even sound, pulsing? Any additional details would be helpful. Thanks.

Anonymous said...

I hear this hum as well. I live in the woodcroft community in Edmonton. The hum seems to come from the NW. I have investigated on google maps and have found an electrical sub station on 118ave and 149st as well as Inland Cement just north of the Yellowhead. I am inclined to believe the cement manufacturer is the culprit.

Has anyone correlated the presence and intensity of the hum with the presence of cloud cover? This would alter both the search radius and likely the perceived frequency of sound.

D. Negrey said...

Is there a correlation between when you notice the hum and operating hours of the cement manufacturer?

No work has been done specifically with regards to cloud cover. However, it has been noted that it could be a factor in people's perception of a hum.

Thank you for posting!

Unknown said...

I also live in Copperfield and just googled it this evening to look this up as I am laying in bed and have been hearing it for the last hour.