Why Is My Electrical Panel Making A Buzzing Noise?

Do you hear a buzzing sound coming from inside your home electrical panel? If not resolved, it could be an indicator of a serious problem.

The home electrical panel is what connects your home’s electrical system to external power. The electrician, opening this panel is a familiar sight. As a homeowner, you may know that the electrical panel helps to distribute power and electricity to different systems around your house. These connections throughout your home can and should be labeled properly.

Inside, you’ll find a series of switches, or breakers, which prevent circuits from overloading and damaging your property and or appliances. It’s also possible that you have a fuse box, which have fuses that blow in case of overload.

Blown fuses obviously need to be replaced, and in most cases electrical switches can simply be turned back on after an overload switches them off. What do you do if you hear humming coming from your electrical panel?

Why Is My Electrical Panel Humming or Buzzing?

There are a few potential causes. The first is that there could be a loose wire somewhere in the box, which can arc and cause friction as well as heat. Another possible problem stems from an overvoltage situation, where one of your circuits has been overloaded to dangerous levels.

Too Many Appliances

It’s possible you may have too many appliances running on the same circuit, in which case you should contact an electrician to install more circuits. It’s also possible that your electrical panel is old and worn out. If this is the case, it needs to be replaced by a qualified professional as soon as possible.

Loose Screws

A buzzing sound can also be caused by loose screws in the box lid or cover. If this is the case, you can tighten them up yourself. Be careful, though: if you’re not comfortable working with electricity, it’s best to call in a professional.

Still Hearing Noises From Your Electrical Panel?

If after inspecting your electrical panel you still can’t determine the source of the humming noise, it’s really the best and safest option to contact an electrician for assistance. This problem should not be ignored!

Here at New England Electrical Contracting, we pride ourselves on troubleshooting and repair of all electrical systems including the electrical panel and everything it’s connected to. Even if you need emergency after-hours work, we are specially trained to deal with emergency electrical situations.

Give us a call, and we’ll get right on it!