It's common for electricity to make noise. The noise could be so soft in your home that you don't normally hear it, but you might hear an electrical hum if you stand under a power line. The important thing is to know what your home normally sounds like so you can identify when your electrical system is making new or louder-than-normal sounds. Here are three sounds you might hear and the electrical repairs that could be needed.
1. Crackling Noises Coming from an Outlet
If you hear noises that sound like electricity crackling, there might be a problem with an outlet in your home. There could also be trouble with the wiring behind a wall. There could be a burning odor too; if so, the wall or outlet might feel warm or hot.
If you ever encounter this problem, turn the power off at the electrical panel to stop the electrical flow through the wires and to the outlet. Then call an electrical contractor right away. It might be dangerous to turn the electricity back on when there's a problem with the wiring, so you'll need quick repairs in order to restore your power.
2. Loud Hum Coming from the Electrical Panel
A hum that's suddenly louder than normal could be a sign of an electrical malfunction. If you trace the noise to the electrical panel, don't touch the panel to turn off the electricity until you've talked to an electrician. They can give you advice or schedule an emergency appointment. A bad electrical panel might be dangerous; you don't want to touch anything if there's a danger of you being shocked.
3. A Loud Pop Coming from the Panel or Light
Sometimes, a light might make a loud pop when you flip it on. This could happen because of a problem with the bulb, but there could also be a problem with the light fixture. If there is no other outlet or light on the same circuit, you won't be able to narrow down the problem to the light or wiring, so call an electrical contractor to determine the problem and make repairs.
You might also hear a loud pop in the electrical panel when you flip a circuit breaker back on. If a circuit breaker flips off and then makes a loud pop when you turn it back or it flips back off right away, leave the breaker off and call an electrician.
Breakers and parts in the electrical panel can go bad, so the electrician needs to troubleshoot the issue and make the necessary electrical repairs so the electricity in your home is safe to use again.
When we purchased our first home, we realized that there was a problem with some of the electrical work. Some of the lights flickered when we turned them on, and others really seemed to have issues if they were left on long term. I thought the issues was the light bulbs themselves at first, so I replaced several of them. However, after making those changes, it seemed like things were still having trouble. I began going through and thinking carefully about how to identify and resolve the challenges, and it occurred to me that working with an electrician could be helpful. I turned to the professional for help, and it was a good thing I did. Read more about electricians on this blog.