If you notice a buzzing or humming sound coming from one or more of your sockets, it can be tempting to simply ignore the problem or consider it a minor annoyance. However, buzzing sockets are usually a symptom of serious electrical issues, many of which can result in anything from damaged appliances to electrical fires.

As such, it's important to contact an electrician if you notice your sockets are emitting a buzzing sound. Here are just four reasons why that might be happening.

1. Loose Wiring

One of the main causes of humming or buzzing sockets is loose wiring. When the wires inside a socket become loose, they start to vibrate, and it is this vibration that creates the buzzing sound. Since wires often become loose over time, this tends to be a problem in older homes that haven't benefited from updated sockets. You should also be vigilant about spotting signs of loose wiring if you live in a part of the country subject to frequent temperature changes. Those changes can cause parts of your socket to contract and expand, which can loosen connections.

2. Damaged Sockets

Wiring can come loose due to knocks and bumps as well as age, and such issues can also damage other parts of your sockets. For example, the blades within each socket that are supposed to make contact with plugs can be knocked out of alignment, which means they won't make a proper connection. As with loose wires, poor connections between plug and socket blades can produce buzzing noises. When this happens, you'll probably need to replace the socket rather than simply have it rewired.

3. Poor Installation

If you've started to notice buzzing from your sockets not too long after they were fitted, improper installation is probably the cause. When sockets are improperly installed, they often suffer from polarity problems. If this is the issue you're facing, you'll generally find that sockets become louder as more items are plugged in. It's vital to contact a licensed electrician as soon as possible if you have any reason to suspect poor installation since this can lead to very dangerous situations.

4. Bad Breaker

Your breaker plays a key role in preventing overloads and short circuits, but it can sometimes send either too much or too little power to your sockets. When this happens, it is likely to get louder. It's worth remembering that a breaker will always emit a faint humming sound, but you should be concerned if that sound noticeably increases. When a loud buzzing can be heard, you probably need to have the breaker replaced.

Reach out to a local electrician to learn more.