You’re not alone if the constant buzzing from your lights is making you irritable. It could be a quiet hum or a loud buzz. And it can happen in all different kinds of light bulbs. But, why is my light fixture buzzing?

Well, it could be for a variety of reasons, from loose fixtures to electrical problems. You can take care of fixing the fixtures, but you’ll need a pro to fix any electrical problems.

Therefore, keep reading to learn more about why lights buzz.

Common Causes of Buzzing Light Bulbs

On occasion, buzzing can be heard before a bulb burns out due to malfunction or aging. The voltage being applied to the bulb, not the bulb itself, is the most frequent cause of buzzing lights. This impact may even be felt by other equipment using the same electrical line.

Consequently, what does a buzzing light bulb mean? In accordance with the kind of bulb you’re using, here are a few options.

Buzzing Incandescent Bulbs

Incandescent lights typically operate quietly. However, buzzing becomes a more likely issue if they are on a dimmer switch. Dimmers function by removing a portion of the voltage from the line, which reduces the amount of energy reaching the filaments and, consequently, the amount of light produced.

Unfortunately, the regular addition and subtraction of voltage causes filaments in light bulbs to vibrate, producing the grating buzzing sound. Although the buzzing is not a sign of an electrical danger, it might make you reluctant to use the light fixture’s dimmer.

Buzzing Fluorescent Lights

It’s common knowledge that older fluorescent lights buzz and flicker. If you have an outdated ballast, you might only need to replace the bulb, but that won’t work. This gadget controls the voltage of fluorescent lighting. Buzzing could happen if the ballast is unable to control the voltage properly.

Buzzing LED Light Bulbs

Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) don’t have filaments or firing arcs like incandescent and fluorescent bulbs do. Because of this, they lack any components that could buzz.

However, if you try to dim a non-dimmable LED bulb, LED lights might still buzz. Other devices using the same electrical line could cause electromagnetic interference as well.

How to Stop a Light Bulb from Buzzing?

Try these troubleshooting tips to stop a light bulb from buzzing:

• Swap out the bulb with a new one:Since a dying light bulb may be the source of humming, replacing it with a new one could be a simple solution to the issue.
• Replace incandescent bulbs with rough service bulbs, CFLs, or LEDs:These are less likely to vibrate and hum because they have stronger, thicker filaments (or no filaments at all in the case of LEDs). Plus, low-wattage CFLs and LEDs have the added advantage of lower electricity bills.
• Use the right type of bulb:Dimming switches cannot be used with all types of bulbs. Choose a bulb with a dimming feature if you want one.
• Remove a bulb or two from a multi-light fixture:If the buzzing stops, the dimmer is probably unable to handle the wattage required to run all of the lights simultaneously. Replace the bulbs with CFLs or LEDs that have a lower wattage to get around this.
• Upgrade your dimmer or ballast:Buzzing is likely to be brought on by magnetic ballasts and cheap dimmers. To stop your light bulbs from making this annoying noise, you might need to install a better replacement.

So Why Do Lights Buzz?

As we can see, there are a few answers to the question, “why do lights buzz?”. And the main causes are vibrations, outdated components, or incompatibility. Additionally, you’ll be more equipped to resolve the issue if you know why your particular type of light bulb might be buzzing.

In Denton County, Texas, are you looking for residential electrician services? See what we can do for you by contacting us right away! Lewisville, Flower Mound, Highland Village, Argyle, and the surrounding areas are proudly served by us.