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House mysteries: Noises in the attic and dusty residue on the floor and steps

Handyman on Call

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February 12, 2012|By Peter Hotton

Q. I have been bothered by a cricket noise, or at least a noise like a cricket, for 19 years. It’s in the attic, and I replaced an attic exhaust fan three or four years ago, then took it out. It’s still happening. It often happens when the wind is blowing, and often at night. Do you know what it is, where it is, and is there anything I can do?

Adelle Rabinowitz, Randolph

A. I don’t know anything, but I can give you a guess. Yes, I do know something, that crickets are unlikely to live 19 years, let alone give out a chirp that long. You have no trees nearby or power, phone, or cable wires that are likely to rub against any tree branches. I looked up cricket in Google, and noted a lot of info, but still don’t know how long they live. Incidentally, there are 900 kinds of crickets. But your chirper is not a real-live insect.

You are hearing the chirps at night because it is quieter at night in the house. Remember, things that go bump always do it at night. Also, mostly when the wind blows. So, check out all metal louvers in vents in the attic. A loose metal vent can rattle in the wind. If you can’t tighten the louvers, install new vents.

Q. I had new red brick steps put on a new foundation, and they look great. But I am getting constant white powder coming out of the bricks and mortar. I sweep it up and even treat it with muriatic acid, and it comes back in a few days. The job was done by a mason. Is there anything I can do?

Disappointed

A. It’s called efflorescence, the leaching of the lime in the mortar. It’s a very common problem, and will recur as long as there is lime in the mortar. Ask your mason if he used a high-lime mortar; if he did, he might be able to chip out that mortar and put in a low-lime mortar or one made simply with Portland cement and sand, which contains little or no lime. I built brick steps with my father-in-law many years ago, and used a Mortar Mix made by Sakrete. My father-in-law was a mason and said that the Mortar Mix I bought was very good. The point is, I have never had efflorescence in the brick steps.

Red bricks contain no lime, so it is the mortar that is at fault.

You can save a bundle by replacing the mortar yourself, but it will cost you a lot of sweat equity. It is hard work, so do it early in the spring.

Q. Where can I get a brass headboard replated in the Boston area?

Paul Reardon, in Hotton Chat Room