Crackling noise in phone line: There’s nothing more annoying than when you can’t hear or be heard because your phone line is making a crackling noise. If your business phone call quality is less than perfect, you will be giving your customers a negative impression about your professionalism. Click on the following section for help.

1. How to Troubleshoot a crackling noise in phone line
2. Reasons why you might be getting a crackling noise in phone line
3. How to know when it is time to upgrade your phone system

If you are looking for technical support for your business phone system, contact us.

Crackling Noise in Phone Line? Here’s Help

1. How to Troubleshoot a crackling noise in phone line

Crackling noise on phone line? Learn how to fix it

Take the following steps when you have an issue with your phone making a crackling noise.

Step 1: Discover which phones are making a crackling noise

You need to find out if all or just some of your business phones are making a crackling noise. Test out and listen to each phone in your system and note the ones with the issue. If the problem occurs with only one or two of your phones, then these units may need to be replaced. Over time, older phones will wear out and cause you to have poor call quality.

Step 2: Find out if the problem is with the phone or the phone line

One of the easiest ways to discover whether the issue is with the phone line or the phone itself is to put your phone on mute. If you still hear the annoying crackling sounds, then the problem is with your phone line and not the phone itself.

Step 3: Check that your phone is plugged in properly

Crackling noise on phone line? Check your phone jack

Ensure that your phone is plugged in properly to the phone jack. Unplug it and plug it in again, making sure that it is secure and not on an angle.

Step 4: Check your phone cord

Examine your phone cord for any signs of damage. It you see signs of wear, then try out a new phone cord or a cord from one of your phones that is working properly.

Step 5: Check your phone jack

To see if the issue is with the jack itself, try connecting your phone to another jack. Choose one that is being used by a phone that isn’t experiencing the crackling noise. If your phone works fine using the new jack, then you will need to call a technician to come and replace the damaged phone jack.

Step 6: Disconnect every device

Unplug all of the devices that are currently using your phone line such as your fax, modem, and other phones. These other devices could be causing a problem with your phone. If they are damaged, then they could be affecting your call quality because they are using the same line as your phone. If you still hear the crackling noise even after all other devices are disconnected, then your phone itself may be the issue and it will need to be replaced.

Step 7: Connect each device one at a time

You may need to repair or replace a device causing interferance on your line

If the sound goes away after you have disconnected all other devices, start reconnecting each device one at a time. If you hear the crackling starting again once a device has been added back, then that device may be causing interference on the line. You should replace or repair the device that is causing the problem or contact a professional for their advice.

Step 8: Try relocating your phone

If you are still hearing the crackling noise on your phone, try moving it away from all other electronic devices. If this doesn’t work, then it’s time to call a professional technician for help.

2. Reasons why you might be getting a crackling noise in phone line

Crackling noise in phone line? You may have faulty wiring

There are several reasons why you might be experiencing a crackling noise on your phone line. Here are a few of the top ones.

Bad Wiring:

One of the biggest reasons why you get a crackling noise in your phone line is usually faulty wiring. This could be caused by a number of things including:

• Loose wires
• Damaged wires
• Rodents eating away the phone line insulation

If you have bad wiring, then you will need to contact your phone service provider to fix the problem.

Static Interference:

Static interference can be caused by other electronic devices such as a radio that are interfering with your phone. It is often caused by electrical interference with your phone’s wiring. If you can hear crackling, buzzing, humming, or hissing even when no one is speaking, then you are probably experiencing static interference.

Corrosion:

Older and improperly insulated phone lines are susceptible to corrosion. If your phone line comes in contact with corrosive products such as acid, chemicals, and bleach, then they can become corroded and this will cause a crackling noise when you are making a call.

Weather:

Lightning strikes can cause a crakling noise in phone line

If you are experiencing the crackling noise on all of your phones, then you probably have an issue with your outside equipment. Certain weather conditions, especially rainy weather, can cause you to have poor call quality.

This can even include moisture that you can’t see seeping into the equipment. If you notice the issue happening when it rains, then you will need to get your phone line inspected for water damage.

Lightning strikes can also be a culprit, causing you to hear intermittent popping noises on your line.

3. How to know when it is time to upgrade your phone system

Constantly having poor call quality such as crackling noises on your line may be an indication that it is time to upgrade your current phone system. Here are a few other indicators that it’s time to upgrade:

• You are experiencing frequently dropped calls
• Your system needs frequent repairs
• You don’t have all the features you need or would like
• Your remote workers need better collaboration capabilities
• Your business has outgrown your current system

If you find that you are experiencing one or more of these signs, then contact us. We would love to sit down with you and help you think through how to best go about making a system upgrade.