why is my phone line crackly? how do I fix it?

Question

We had a lightning storm and it knocked our phone out for a couple days. The phone company fixed the phone so it would work but now it is all crackly all the time. they want $300 to come into my home to fix it. What would cause it to do this? I can fix it myself (I have electrical background) if I know what would cause it.

Answer 1

Couple of things to try. If you can, plug a different phone into the inside phone jack. If the static disappears, the problem is with the other phone. If the static is still on the line, take the phone outside to the telephone junction box attached to your home (usually a gray plastic box.) If you open the box, you will see another jack you can plug your phone into. This allows you to completely bypass your house phone wiring. If the static is still there, the problem is DEFINITELY on the phone company wiring. But if the static is gone, then it is your house wiring (which could have suffered a major power surge when the lightning struck.) In that case, check your phone bill or account info. You may be paying for "inside line" service (a phone company insurance plan.) You can also use non-phone company technician/repair service which might be cheaper than what the phone company quoted. The problem with trying to do the repair yourself is not the actual repair, but trying to find out what actually needs to be repaired or replaced. Good Luck!

Answer 2

First I would test the phone itself to make certain that the cord (if there is one) is not causing the problem...doing all the checks you can inside the home will leave the onus on the company to fix whats wrong outside.

In our area if the repair guy has to come out and fix a phone problem, if the problem is in the house (phone itself etc) we are charged, if it is outside the house (line, box etc) then we pay nothing. Any equipment that is the phone company's is their responsibility (at least that is what we are told)

So, check your phones for reception problems to be certain...for cordless, check the battery, the receiver, antenna etc., for corded, check the connection at both the phone handset and phone ends...the clips that hold this cord inplace have a tendancy to weaken and connection can be crackly as you describe.

If you have an extra cord (for corded phones) that you know works...try it..also, if you have access to different phones, for example you can borrow a neighbors phone for a bit to see if the phone is the problem or not...iif crackling still exists after everything you check out...then the phone company is most likely responsible.

Of course it is peculiar that the phone was fine prior to the storm, it sounds as tho the repairs weren't handled quite thoroughly enough..but never know it could be coincidence that your phone and the outage coincided. Then again, if a cordless, the phone itself could have been damaged in the storm by receiving a surge of power at the time the lines were hit and damaged.

Good luck with this, sure hope you don't end up charged.

Answer 3

Do you have a cordless phone? Try changing the channel on the phone see if that helps, otherwise, you'll havr to pay them to look at it or hire an electrician to check it out. Might be cheaper.

Answer 4

You have a damage wire somewhere. I have had this happen a couple of times. One time I had a wire outside that was damaged, some of the insulation was scraped off and I would get static when it got wet from rain or dew.
The other time it happened my cat had chewed the telephone cord inside the house.

Answer 5

First take you good phone outside and hook it to the box. if you still get the crackel, try different phone, still get it? phone company fault. If no crack in the first place outside check all your wire and boxes in the house, something has a bad conection thighen it up

Answer 6

Try a new phone