The Buzzing in the Wall—Sinister Forces, Or Electrical Problem?

Can you hear buzzing or humming in your walls? You may notice it more at night, when your home is quiet, lending it a sinister air. However, this strange noise is likely to have a mundane explanation, most likely one an electrician can assist with. Here are just a few of the many reasons you may be hearing buzzing in your walls.

Poor or Degraded Wiring
Buzzing in the wall can indicate many electrical faults. One of the most common and potentially most dangerous is badly configured or corroded wiring. Wires not held in place correctly may vibrate and cause noise, particularly if a screw is loose. If the wiring has degraded, this could be a fire risk and an electrician may recommend turning your circuit breakers off.

Faulty Switch or Outlet
A poorly installed switch or electrical outlet can also cause noise. Again, this is usually due to unsecured parts vibrating against the wall or other electrical components. Most electricians will be able to fix these within moments, tightening or replacing fittings as required to ensure outlets are safe to use.

Non-Electrical Noises
No, we don’t mean something supernatural — in these instances, your buzzing or humming could be caused by:

A nearby ceiling fan vibrating through the wall
Florescent lights, particularly strip lights
An infestation of insects, such as wasps
An appliance in a neighbor’s home
Sounds from water pipes within the building

If you can’t identify the source of the sound, seek assistance from a professional. They’ll advise you if you need to switch your circuit breakers off or take other mitigating action prior to their inspection. Don’t try to fix broken wiring or outlets yourself unless you’re qualified, as you could seriously injure yourself or cause a fire.

Key Takeaways:

Even though it’s always possible that there’s something supernatural, when there’s buzzing in a wall, it’s most likely electrical.
If there are loose wires, this is a fire hazard, so it needs to be fixed as soon as possible.
Sometimes buzzing in the wall is actually coming from something that isn’t electrical, like a ceiling fan.

“Try to pinpoint where in the wall you’re hearing the buzzing noise. If it seems to be coming from either an outlet or a light switch, then there are probably loose connections in them.”