Have you been hearing a humming noise originating from your propertys electrical panel? If so youre right to be worried. Your homes electrical system is designed to operate quietly so you can receive electricity without a hassle or disturbance. The electrical panel controls the power being sent to your home while protecting you from potential hazards.
So any unusual sounds will give you concern. This could be a sign that youre dealing with a serious problem and youll want to remedy that issue as soon as possible. What could the noise be? Youll find out below.
Subtle Buzzing
Do you hear a subtle buzzing sound? Is it faint and tough to hear until you get closer to the panel? The buzzing noise may not be noticeable at all times. And it likely wont keep you awake at night. The currents flow through the breakers like water in a stream. So youre likely going to hear a faint buzzing sound when getting close to your electrical panel. This may be normal and it might not be anything to worry about. If the noise gets loud you may have something to worry about. Dont wait to call an electrician.
Moderate Humming Noises
Is the noise a bit louder? Does it sound like a moderate hum? You may also hear a sparkling or clicking noise. These sizzling sounds could be a sign that something is wrong with the circuit breaker. The problem could be a handful of things. For instance you might have a problem with loose or frayed wires. This is very dangerous and could lead to a fatal injury. With this in mind you cannot risk it. You need to call a professional electrician so they can handle the problem.
Loud Repetitive Buzzing
In some cases the noise will be so loud that itll keep you up at night. A repetitive buzzing sound will be disturbing and itll prevent you from getting a good nights sleep. What causes this to happen? Ultimately it could be a number of problems. However the most common issue is that the breaker should be tripping but it isnt. This tells you that the breaker is bad. Your breaker should trip and shut down the power supply to your home when there is a power surge. This protects your home and prevents additional problems.
If the breaker isnt working the current will continue flowing to the wires in your home. This will cause heat accumulation and a scarily loud buzzing sound. This is a sign that youre dealing with a serious problem. It is a problem that you cannot afford to ignore.
Is The Buzzing Sound Normal?
Electrical panels tend to make buzzing sounds. Sometimes this will be normal. You may hear a buzz when your AC turns on. It should stop a short time later. However you should be worried if the humming sound is repetitive and unusually loud.
You need to fix the problem rapidly but you cannot fix it alone. Working on such projects can be dangerous so it is best to hire a professional.
this post first appeared on Hamp;A Long Island Electrician at https://toplongislandelectrician.com/long-island-electrician/electrical-panel-humming-noise/