[Electrothaumaturgist]

Yes. Thermostats- Even electric stove thermostats- will sometimes interfere. Couldn't figure out some popping noises on the 38-1 when I first got it running. EVERY electrical device in the building seemed to affect it. (Even when the neighbors would open or shut their metal front outer door, I could hear a definite "pop" over the speaker) But the stove was obvious, as it's virtually in the same room as the radio, and  I could hear the pops on the radio simultaneously as the audible "clicks" of the t'stat on the stove (and a/c 'stat, too) were heard. Thus, the looping and grounding of the antenna to the chassis. That stopped most all of the noise generated from everyones' electrical devices in the building. Glad you figured it out!