When this guy starts making odd noises it’s not something you want to take lightly! Photo source: Reddit.com
Electricity improves our lives significantly when it operates within our expectations and control. However, when something goes wrong, it can become a major safety hazard that can put us at risk.
So, if you hear your electrical panel buzzing and you immediately panic, we don’t blame you.
To help keep you safe, we’ve listed 3 noises your electrical circuit breaker panel might be making matched with the problem it indicates and what you should do.
Most likely problem: Luckily for you, it’s most likely not a problem. A slight hum is normal.
Breakers often produce a humming noise from the vibration of the electrical currents.
What to do: You most likely don’t need to do anything. But if you’re still uneasy about the noise, have an electrician take a look just to make sure everything is working properly.
It’s always best to be overly cautious when it comes to your home and electricity.
Most likely problem: A loose or damaged wire.
What to do: Call an electrician to find and repair/replace the wire.
Don’t try to fix this problem on your own. Loose wires can produce electrical arcs. An arc is a discharge of current created when electricity jumps across the wires (trust us, you’ll want to stay away from those!).
Most likely problem: A particular circuit breaker is “bad” and not tripping when it should.
(Not sure if your circuit breaker is the issue? Check out our article, “How Can I Tell if My Circuit Breaker has Gone Bad?”)
What to do: Contact an electrician to replace the breaker immediately.
Why?
Breakers shut off power when there’s an electrical problem on the circuit it protects. If a particular circuit has too much electricity running through it but the breaker doesn’t trip, the wires will heat up and can eventually cause an electrical fire.
Note: If your circuit breaker keeps tripping after you’ve replaced the bad breaker, you might have a larger issue. To help figure out your particular electrical problem, refer to our article, “Why Does My Circuit Breaker Keep Tripping?”.
We’re happy to help! The electricians at Energy Today provide award-winning electrical service to Florida communities including Sarasota, Bradenton, Port Charlotte, Tampa, Orlando, Naples and more.