I have electrical transmission lines outside my house that make a buzzing sound. What can be done to fix this?

Question

I have been told that the noise is because of the moisture in the air (corona discharge). The sound does seem to be stronger when the humidity is higher or it has just rained.

I have been told that the noise is because of the moisture in the air (corona discharge). The sound does seem to be stronger when the humidity is higher or it has just rained. The only thing I want is the noise to go away.

Answer 1

Corona is pretty normal. It does represent a certain amount of power loss to the utility companies, but the lines are designed in such a way as to reduce the losses (eg: close bundles of two or four conductors per phase helps reduce corona quite a bit yet raises costs for buying more lines and stronger towers). So, there shouldn't be too much to worry about as far as notifying the power company (unless the noise really bugs you like an answer above me mentions).

Why corona happens is not necessarily due to moisture, but moisture in the air does cause it to be more prevalent. A large magnitude non-uniform electric field is present just outside the lines. This electric field ionizes (excites) the air molecules, producing a dull blue glow visible at night along with a buzzing sound. Depending on the air conditions or the line cleanliness, the electric field might be stronger in some areas or the air easier to ionize.

Don't panic as the first couple of answers seem to be saying. The electric field decreases significantly as the distance from the line increases (proportional to 1/distance^2). There should be very little magnetic field to worry about as well. These are the things that most people are scared of when they see power lines. Truth is that daily life is filled with elec/mag fields equal to or greater than those most people experience from power lines. The supposed link between cancer and power lines is quite weak from what I have been told.

Answer 2

Nothing at all, but to sue electrical company for noise harrasment near Your house.

The buzz You hear is an aftermath of vibrations of the complete electricity transportation because of the frequency (50Hz in Europe and most of the world, 60Hz in America) of AC transported through those wires. Due to that frequency, all components of transportation system vibrate at that frequency.

The buzzing sound increases during high humidity periods (rainy or humid days, almost always in the night, because of temperature drop). Humidity conducts electricity because it gets ionized, due to high voltage in the conductors. Ion transfered electricity makes an arc between the conductor and the rest of the construction. In some cases the corona discharge (that You have menitioned) occurs, and then YOu can actually see those discharging arcs (if it is watched at night). The formation of the arc occurs with the same frequency as the one of th AC in the conductor. If there is a steel structure for hanging those conductors, the buzz increases to a much highrer level than far away from the structure, because of resonance.

What You can do (aside of sueing the company for disturbing Your private property by annoying sounds), is to put some noise isolation on the outer surfaces of Your home, if You can afford it, for this reason only.

Answer 3

Have you notified the power company? It could be either mechanical vibration of the wire insulator supports, a defective transformer, or electical discharge into the air. In any case, the power company shouldn't want it to happen. Vibrating insulators or defective transformers can fail, sometimes causing a dangerous situation. Discharge from high voltage lines wastes electricity and can cause other problems. It should not happen routinely. These things are not dangerous to your health unless you get too close and get in the way of the electrical dischage.

Answer 4

You can not do any thing for this sound ,if the transmission line is new the sound will deminish after 7 to 8 month or if it is old lineso then this will because of Corona losses .If sound is coming only during humidity and in rainy season it mean that too much dust is deposite on the line which is in form of fine dust .

if the line is old the sound also coming from the the insulator because of dust deposition on the insulator or some loose connection or by formation of cabon on the bushing because of loose connection.

Answer 5

The corona discharge can definitely be improved by the utility company washing the insulators with a high velocity water jet.. or replacing the insulators with a higher voltage rating.....

Source: Electrical transmission engineer with 50 years experience.

Answer 6

it is basically the single phase transformer (most likely). Poster above is correct - vibrates with frequency. Most Vibrate, things age. Just call your Electric company. unfortuneatly I do not think they will rush out and change it since even new ones "buzz"

Answer 7

Not here, but in town (Selby) there are two pairs of trainers dangling from the overhead telephone cables on Woodville Terrace.. One pair has been there for about 18 months, and still hanging on, the second pair appeared about two weeks ago..

Answer 8

Yes ... Move, you should not jeopardized your health.. Every time you hear this noise remember that radiation is getting to your system and later on may not affect you but your offspring..

Answer 9

the hum could give you Tinnitus. it puts pressure on some people ears.

Answer 10

I would move before you get cancer.