Loading…
2
My storage closet light hums so loud my neighbor complained
Moved into a 1970s building last month and the fluorescent fixture in my storage closet buzzes like a broken transformer, the guy next door banged on the wall Tuesday. Landlord says it's 'normal wear', anyone had luck swapping in a cheap LED tube without losing their deposit?
2 comments
Log in to join the discussion
Log In2 Comments
gray_morgan1mo ago
Hold off on the tube swap for a sec, thats not quite the issue. A cheap LED tube wont stop the ballast hum, the ballast is the part that buzzes, and LEDs still use it unless you rewire the fixture to bypass it completely. I did this in my last place, took 20 minutes with a screwdriver and wire nuts, but if you mess it up thats a bigger deposit hit than a little noise. Also, that humming could just be a loose tombstone or a dying starter, which is a way easier fix. Check the bulbs first, wiggle em, sometimes just reseating one kills the buzz. Landlord saying normal wear is lazy, fluorescent buzz is usually a sign somethings failing, not normal. Just photograph everything before you touch it so youve got proof of the original state.
4