Short bursts of interference may be caused by hair dryers, light dimmers, sewing machines, electric drills, doorbell transformers and garage door openers. If the pattern is on continuously, it may be caused by equipment that is in use full time, such as aquarium heaters and fluorescent lighting. Interference caused by your power company’s electrical equipment is normally continuous and your power company should be notified. Interference can also be caused by bad electrical connections in your house for which a licensed electrician should be contacted.

A simple method of determining the location of electrical interference is by using a portable AM radio tuned to a quiet frequency at the lower end of the dial. If you hear static or a buzzing sound, check to see if it corresponds with the interference to your equipment. The closer you get to the source of the interference, the more intense the static will be.

If you cannot locate the interference source in your own house, check with your neighbors to see if they also receive interference. The house that has the worst interference will often be the source of the interference.

If you can determine that the electrical interference is not caused by any device in your home or a neighbor’s home served by the same transformer, contact the customer service department of your local power company. Most power companies will investigate the problem and take steps to correct it.

The manufacturer of your home electronics equipment is in the best position to offer assistance in resolving your interference problems. You can usually find information about the manufacturer of your equipment on the Internet. The dealer who sold you the equipment should also be able to provide contact information for the manufacturer.