Only a few things are more annoying than the terribly disturbing consistent buzzing sound that seems to be coming from some overhead lights.
But you don’t have to live with it. Once you work out why LED lights are buzzing, you can often solve the problem and enjoy peace.
LED lights that are humming or buzzing on a dimmer circuit typically have an issue with the current – it may be caused by loose wiring, low-quality components, or incompatible lights and dimmer switches. It’s usually the LED driver inside the bulb that is buzzing.
In this guide, I’ll explain:
- The reasons why LED lights buzz with a dimmer
- When it’s dangerous, and needs to be addressed urgently
- How to stop your lights from buzzing
4 Reasons LED Lights Buzzing With Dimmer
The potential reasons your LED light bulbs could be buzzing when used with a dimmer switch include:
- Loose connections in the wiring around the light fixture or circuit breaker.
- Low-quality bulbs or dimmer switches.
- Incompatible LED lights for your dimmer switch.
- High demand on the circuit from other appliances.
Loose Connections
Loose wiring connections either around the fixture or the circuit breaker can cause humming LED lights. Because the wires are loose, the voltage is inconsistent, and the surge wattage causes the driver within the lights to work harder, which causes the buzzing noise.
If the lights are flickering then there’s a good chance that loose wires are the cause of the audible hum, but it’s possible for the lights to seem fine even with a loose connection somewhere.
Low Quality LED Lights Or Dimmers
It’s possible that LED lights buzz regardless of quality, but cheaply-made bulbs or LED dimmer switches are more likely to make a noise than really good ones. If the dimmer switch doesn’t regulate the current properly, or the driver inside the lights is a low-quality part, then the lights may buzz.
Incompatible LED Bulbs And Dimmer Switches
Not all dimmer switches work with dimmable LED bulbs, and not all LEDs are dimmable either. So if you try to use a light with a dimmer switch that isn’t compatible, there’s a good chance they won’t work properly. Even if they seem to be performing as they should, they might have a buzzing sound.
High Demand Electrical Devices
If a higher-wattage electrical device on the same circuit as your LED lights is switched on, it could cause the lights to give a low hum as they struggle with the surge.
Most US homes have a dedicated lighting power circuit running from the breaker, but they may not. You might have the same power circuit in your home supplying lights in one room (with a dimmer switch) but other, high-demand devices in another room.
Those devices can cause a surge as they get started, and that can make your lights give off that buzzing or humming sound. Switching power supply for the high-demand appliances – putting them on a completely separate circuit from the lights – should solve this.
Are Buzzing LED Lights Dangerous?
Buzzing noise from your LED lights are only typically a sign of danger if there is loose wiring anywhere in the circuit. This can lead to an electrical fire if left unfixed. Other buzzing causes don’t tend to pose a risk.
Loose wiring is always a concern – it causes electrical currents to ‘jump’ the gap between wires, which is called arcing. This creates a mini power surge which generates a lot of extra heat, and can become a fire risk.
If your lights are buzzing, check for loose wires around the fixture, the dimmer switch, and at the circuit breaker.
Most loose wires can be resolved easily by switching off the power supply and then re-sealing connections, but if you think there’s a problem with your circuit breaker and you’re inexperienced, call a professional electrician.
If you know that the lights aren’t buzzing because of loose wires, then you won’t be in danger. Cheap bulbs or dimmers, or an incompatible LED bulb, won’t create a fire risk, but it does mean you shouldn’t expect your lights to last very long. They’ll burn out quickly.
The only consideration would be the secondary effects of buzzing – it can lead to distraction, or even to stress. Distractions can cause accidents, while stress can be harmful to you mentally.
So, fixing a buzzing light is still in your best interests.
How To Stop LED Lights From Buzzing
To stop your LED lights from buzzing:
- Remove the bulbs and clean the contacts
- Replace the bulb and tighten it, then check if the connection has improved
- Check that you’re using compatible LEDs and dimmer switches
- Try an Electronic Low Voltage (ELV) dimmer
- Replace your bulbs with smart bulbs
You’ll want to rule out the wiring too, but if it seems to be that the bulbs are causing the issue, it could be that they’re just not compatible with your chosen dimmer.
One surefire dimmer spec that almost always fixes a buzzing issue is called an electronic low voltage, or ELV dimmer. They are not cheap.
- For use in 300-Watt single pole electronic low-voltage applications
- Features a large rocker paddle switch and small sliding dimmer switch for precise lighting control
Last update on 2025-01-07 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
But they are reverse-phase dimmers that regulate the power carefully, so should work as long as you’ve chosen dimmable LEDs.
If you’re still being driven mad by buzzing, consider using smart LED bulbs like Philips Hue (Amazon) instead.
This means there’s no need for a dimmer switch – they should work perfectly well with no buzzing, and can be controlled from your phone.
Final Words
Back in the days of incandescent bulbs, buzzing noises were a lot easier to diagnose! It would mean the filament was loose, and the bulb just needed replacing.
But that doesn’t mean an incandescent bulb is better than an LED bulb – you just need to work through the reasons to identify the buzzing cause, and then you can resolve it.
Sometimes it’s LED lights causing buzzing in speakers or other devices, too – check my guide if you want help resolving that.
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