A buzzing electrical outlet can be annoying and distracting, but did you know it can be dangerous too? If you hear a buzzing or humming noise coming from an electrical outlet, it could be telling you that you need to resolve a larger issue to prevent harm to your household.
If you hear this sound, it’s important to find the source of the problem and get it fixed immediately so you don’t risk encountering more serious problems down the line. Below, we’ll discuss a few causes of noisy, buzzing outlets.
What Causes an Outlet to Buzz?
The alternating currents that deliver power to your outlets reverse polarity nearly 50 times per second. Usually, this changeover is silent, but if the current pattern is disturbed, it can create an electrical hum or buzzing noise. If you hear this sound, it’s important to find the source of the problem and get it fixed immediately so you don’t risk encountering more serious problems down the line. Below, we’ll discuss a few causes of noisy, buzzing outlets.
Loose Connections and Wiring
In both old and recently built homes, electrical wires can come loose and vibrate, which can cause buzzing and crackling sounds at your outlet. Loose wires inside the outlet itself are the most common cause of a buzzing noise. This issue usually happens when old and worn wiring deteriorates, slips out of place, and comes into proximity of another wire or piece of metal. If your outlet is buzzing, you should call an electrician to inspect it, especially if your wiring is more than a few decades old. The electrician can evaluate the outlet, make recommendations, and tell you if you need to replace it.
Faulty Circuit Breakers
If you notice a faint buzzing sound at your outlet that gets louder as you approach your electrical panel, it could be a sign of a faulty circuit breaker. In general, a circuit breaker shouldn’t be noisy or get louder as time goes by, so if it’s making a low, loud electrical hum, it’s probably sending out too much or too little current to your outlets. If you’re experiencing an overload, it’s possible that disconnecting devices on the circuit will solve the problem, but it’s more likely that you have a faulty breaker. If this is the case, you need to call an electrician right away to replace the breaker and reduce the risk of harm.
Reversed Polarity
If an outlet is wired incorrectly so that its hot and neutral wires are switched around inside the outlet, its electrical polarity may be reversed. This issue can generate a buzz that gets louder as you plug in more devices. Reversed polarity is a serious hazard that could lead to an electrical fire or shock. If you think your outlets were installed improperly, you should call a licensed electrician to inspect and replace your outlets.
Faulty Outlet
When you plug an appliance, lamp, or other device into an outlet’s socket, the plug’s blades hold it in place. If the outlet’s contact plates are damaged, they won’t hold the plug properly, which can create a buzzing sound. Hiring an electrician to replace the outlet is the easiest way to solve the problem.
Temperature Fluctuations
Big fluctuations in temperature changes can cause the electrical parts in outlets to expand and contract, which leads to wear and tear on your electrical connections. After several repeating cycles of change, the connections in your outlet can deteriorate, which can cause crackling or buzzing sounds. A licensed electrician can replace your faulty outlet with a more rugged, temperature-resistant model.
How Can I Diagnose a Buzzing Outlet?
If you hear a buzzing noise at your outlet, try to isolate and identify the cause of the sound one step at a time. Try to discover the source of the buzz to learn whether the noise is coming from a particular outlet or switch, a single room or hallway, or if it seems like it’s audible throughout the house. You can try turning off individual appliances one by one to see if the noise stops, which could indicate the device itself is the problem. You can also try flipping off each circuit breaker at the main service panel until you discover which circuit is problematic.
Are Buzzing Electrical Outlets Dangerous?
Even if you have a good idea about what might be causing an outlet to buzz, you shouldn’t try to fix it yourself. Buzzing outlets point to hazards that could potentially become dangerous, so they need to be fixed as soon as possible. The best way to handle a buzzing outlet is to hire a professional electrician to inspect your electrical system and fix the problem. Loose connections and wiring can lead to electrical arcing that can cause an injury, property damage, or worse.
Fix a Buzzing Outlet with a Call to Mister Sparky
When a buzzing electrical outlet is driving you crazy, you know you need to take action. The licensed professional electricians at Mister Sparky can fix your noisy outlet and ensure that your electrical system is safe, leaving you with blissful silence and peace of mind.