When you are sitting quietly in your home, can you ever hear a buzzing noise coming from the walls? It can be tempting to tell yourself that you are imagining the sound, but in fact, the culprit is likely to be your electrical system. Here are a few household issues that can cause buzzing.
1. Loose Connections
Buzzing noises coming from your walls could be a sign of loose connections in electrical outlets or switches. Loose connections can develop for a range of reasons, such as age-related degradation of the materials inside the outlet, rodent damage, or physical damage due to an impact with the outside of the switch. An electrician can safely dismantle the switch or outlet, find the loose connection, and repair it to get rid of that annoying buzzing noise.
2. Loose Screws
Sometimes, electrical outlets and switches buzz because the screws that hold their outer plates to the wall are loose. You might be able to resolve this issue by switching off the electrical supply and then using a screwdriver to tighten the screws. If this simple fix does not resolve the issue, contact an electrician.
3. Humming Fans
Sometimes, fans make a buzzing noise when they are operating. Check your ceiling fans, wall fans, and so on to work out if they are responsible for the noise that is bothering you. The problem could be a loose blade, faulty motor, or obstruction of the blades. Once you know what the problem is, you can then repair or replace the fan to eliminate the buzzing sound.
4. Fluorescent Lights
Sometimes, fluorescent lights can make an irritating humming or buzzing noise, which is sometimes accompanied by a distracting flicker. The cause of this problem is not the bulb but rather the light fixture itself. Many old-fashioned fluorescent light fixtures contain magnetic ballast, which operates at an audible frequency. An electrician can replace this magnetic ballast with electronic ballast, which operates at a much higher frequency that is well outside of the human hearing range. If you upgrade your light fixture in this way, you will need to use modern fluorescent bulbs, as older ones will not work with the new ballast.
5. Faulty Electric Meter
Electrical meters can buzz if they are not working properly. If the buzzing comes from the area near your electric meter, try listening closely to work out if the meter is the source of the noise. An electrician can repair or replace the meter to solve the problem for you.
To learn more, contact an electrician.
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