Light fixtures bring glow and ambiance to any dark room. Nevertheless, they must function correctly to be safe and keep things comfortable and noise-free. Although most light bulb problems can be solved with a bulb swap, there is one that is so annoying it can drive even the most sociable person insane: Buzzing sounds. Light buzzing can happen with plug-ins and hardwired fixtures, so your lamp or chandelier could be the culprit. Fortunately, that low-pitched sound wedging right between your ears is often the result of wear and tear to the bulb and not a bigger electrical problem that you will need a professional to solve. Usually, you can probably stop it on your own.
In short, hearing your lights buzzing whenever you turn them on can be highly irritating. This can occur no matter what lightbulbs you use, whether you have incandescent or LED bulbs. Buzzing can be caused by electrical shorts or loose fixtures. While you can fix loose fixtures, electrical shorts should only be repaired by professionals such as your local Five Star Home Services electricians.
Overall, the most common reason your lights make buzzing sounds is due to the voltage being applied to the bulb. This isn’t necessarily the fault of your bulb — it can be caused by other devices sharing the same electrical line. Fortunately, that buzzing sound isn’t too difficult to get rid of.
In the following, our certified electricians here at Five Star Home Services break down the different types of light buzzing and what can be done:
Fluorescent Light Buzzing
Fluorescent lights have two major common problems: flickering and buzzing. A buzzing fluorescent light might need replacement, but an old ballast could also cause it.
Ballasts are devices used to regulate the light’s voltage. Like the buzzing caused in incandescent bulbs, buzzing in fluorescent lights with older ballasts happens because of constant restriking. Restriking is an issue when the ballast can’t regulate voltage properly. If you have buzzing in a fluorescent bulb and you’ve tried replacing the bulb, try replacing the ballast. However, do not use a magnetic ballast. Magnetic ballasts use metal plates that vibrate. They also generate an electromagnetic field with its hum. An electrical ballast or ballast that boasts a class A rating will suffice to eliminate the noise.
If you need professional help replacing the ballast for your fluorescent lights, your local electricians at Five Star Home Services are always available. Call us today!
Incandescent Light Buzzing
Incandescent lightbulbs are, for the most part, fairly quiet. This is good! They only make noise when you have a dimmer installed on the fixture in question. Dimmers work by removing some of the voltage from the line. They do this to decrease the amount of energy reaching the incandescent lightbulb. This, in turn, dims the light output.
The issue is that regular application and removal of voltage ends excite and cool the filament. Whenever this happens, it causes the vibrations that create buzzing sounds. In short, the best way to ensure that the light doesn’t continue buzzing is by using rough service bulbs. Rough service bulbs have a more supported filament. They reduce the vibration. This silences the buzzing sound. And makes your place more peaceful. If you need new bulbs to replace your buzzing incandescent bulbs, call! Your local electricians at Five Star Home Services are always available! We proudly serve Greater Columbus, Greater Dayton, Greater Cincinnati, and surrounding areas!
We offer affordable light bulb and replacement services!
LED Light Buzzing
LED lights are electric lights that produce light using light-emitting diodes.
Unlike incandescent and fluorescent bulbs, LED bulbs don’t use filament or firing arcs. This means they have no moving parts that can cause a buzzing sound.
Nevertheless, LED bulbs can still buzz if the conditions are right. This happens when there is improper dimming or electromagnetic interference from other electronic devices.
To avoid this, always make sure that the dimmer you are using is compatible with LEDs to prevent a humming sound. If you need an updated dimmer to be compatible with LEDs, we are always here to help. We offer dimmer switch installations at Five Star for situations like this!
Call Your Local Professional Electricians at Five Star Home Services today!
If you live in Central or Southwest Ohio, Five Star Home Services is the company to call for all your electrical, plumbing, and HVAC needs! We are the last company you’ll ever need to call for your home’s systems and commercial building mechanics. One call does it all!
If you’ve attempted to replace your lightbulbs and they are still producing buzzing sounds, or if you suspect you have an electrical short, schedule an inspection with us today.
We are always available 24/7, and we stand behind all of our work with warranty coverage and workmanship guarantees you won’t find anywhere else!
Call us today!
