How to Fix a Buzzing Electrical Outlet
If you have a lot of electronics and appliances plugged in at once, you’ve probably noticed a faint buzzing sound in your home. While it’s easy to chalk this up to leaving a computer or TV on, the buzzing could be coming from an electrical outlet. The sound might fade into the background after a few minutes, but it could be a sign of larger electrical issues and should never be ignored.
Electrical repairs and new outlet installations in your home should always be left to a licensed electrician. That includes buzzing outlets. Still, there are things that you can do before you contact a professional for repairs.
Causes of Buzzing Electrical Outlets
Before we talk about what you should do if you have a buzzing outlet, let’s talk about why outlets buzz in the first place.
- The most common culprit of a buzzing outlet is loose wiring. Loose wiring is a common problem in older homes, but it can still happen in newer buildings and sometimes caused by bugs that crawl into outlets. When wires come loose, they vibrate and create buzzing and crackling sounds. This is a relatively easy fix, but it should still be inspected and repaired by a professional.
- Electrical wires can also buzz if they’re installed incorrectly. This is often the case if an outlet buzzes when several devices are plugged into it. This is a serious issue that could cause an electric shock or even a fire if it isn’t repaired quickly.
- Electrical outlets can also buzz if they’re broken. Outlets are held in place by contact blades, and they can buzz if they’re damaged. If this is the case, the damaged outlet will need to be replaced.
- The buzzing you hear might also be coming from a faulty circuit breaker. It’s normal to hear some very faint buzzing from a breaker, but it shouldn’t get louder over time. If it does, you might be able to unplug some devices to prevent the circuit from overloading. The breaker should trip if the circuit overloads. If it doesn’t and the buzzing keeps getting louder, it may need to be replaced.
Regardless of why an electrical outlet in your home may be buzzing, your job is to find the source of the sound. This isn’t always easy, especially if the buzzing is coming from multiple outlets in multiple rooms. The best way to find the source of a buzzing sound is to take a methodical approach. If you hear a buzz anywhere, turn off your devices one by one to see if any of them stop the buzzing. You can also try unplugging devices to see if the buzzing sound stops or gets quieter. If you have more than one buzzing outlet or you can’t find what’s making the noise, you can try turning off each circuit until you isolate the source of the sound.
Once you’ve found the source of any electrical buzzing sound, contact an electrician right away. A buzzing sound is a sign that you have a problem that could seriously damage your electrical system or cause an injury in your home. If the sound is coming from a specific outlet, unplug everything from it and do not use it until you have it checked out.
For more information about what to do about buzzing electrical outlets or if you suspect that you have any other electrical issues in your home, contact Mister Sparky right away. We will be happy to answer all of your questions and assist you in any way that we can. Learn all the common causes of electrical outlets not working.