Frequency interference and remediation information
Note: All steps should be performed while the interference is active.
1. Go to your main circuit breaker or fuse panel with a battery-powered AM radio tuned between stations so all you hear is the offending noise. If it's nighttime and you are in an enclosed room, be sure to have a working flashlight.
2. If the noise is present and corresponds to the disturbing interference, shut off all power to your premises by turning off the MAIN circuit breaker or equivalent enclosed device. (DO NOT ATTEMPT TO REMOVE CARTRIDGE FUSES or OPERATE EXPOSED or OPEN-TYPE DISCONNECTS IF PHYSICAL CONTACT WITH ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS IS AT ALL POSSIBLE.)
If the noise on the AM radio stops while the power is off, the source of the interference is within your own residence. If the interference does not stop while all your power is off, the source is outside of your home. If it is outside your home, please contact Alliant Energy at 1-800-ALLIANT (800-255-4268) to arrange for a technician to investigate further.
3. If the noise stopped while the electricity was off, you can now locate the circuit supplying the power to the noise source. While monitoring the AM radio as before with the offending noise present, turn off individual circuit breakers one at a time until the noise stops and the offending circuit is known. Leave off the breaker that stops the noise.
4. Now determine what the offending circuit has turned off by going from room to room checking outlets, appliances, and lights for the absence of electricity. The offending noise will be caused by something on this circuit. Turn the breaker back on and wait for the noise to return.
5. With the noise back on and using the AM radio to monitor it, return to the area of the noisy circuit and unplug everything on this circuit one at a time until the offending device is found.
Things most commonly found to cause interference:
- Door bell transformers
- Electric blankets
- Heating pads
- Recessed ceiling lights
- Furnace control circuits
- Refrigerators
- TV top amplified antennas
- Aquarium heaters
- Screw-in photocells
- Low energy (screw in) florescent lights
- Touch control lamps
- Clean air machines (table top and furnace type)
- Light dimmer controls
These devices, when causing interference, are in violation of Federal Communications Commission rules, regulations and can be a nuisance to you and your neighbors. It is important for your own benefit to have the offending device repaired or replaced to insure normal safe operation. Most radio and television interference sources are the result of an arc. This arcing could create a fire hazard and should be identified and repaired.
Legal disclaimer:
By making use of any information on this webpage, you agree to the following:
NO WARRANTIES: All of the information provided on this website is provided "AS-IS" and with NO WARRANTIES. No express or implied warranties of any type, including for example implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose, are made with respect to the information, or any use of the information, on this site. Alliant Energy makes no representations and extends no warranties of any type as to the accuracy, reliability, suitability or completeness of any information or content on this website. Any reliance you place on this material is therefore strictly at your own risk.
DISCLAIMER OF LIABILITY: Alliant Energy specifically DISCLAIMS LIABILITY FOR INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES and assumes no responsibility or liability for any loss or damage suffered by any person as a result of the use or misuse of any of the information or content on this website. Alliant Energy assumes or undertakes NO LIABILITY for any loss or damage suffered as a result of the use, misuse or reliance on the information and content on this website.
Note: All steps should be performed while the interference is active.
1. With the television on and the interference present, try to test for in-home sources by turning off individual circuit breakers (except the one with the television) one at a time to see if the interference stops and the offending circuit can be identified. If the interference stops while any circuit is off, leave off that circuit breaker. If turning off the circuits does not stop the interference, either the interference source is on the same circuit as the television, or it is outside the home.
2. If the source circuit has been identified, determine what it has turned off by going from room to room checking outlets, appliances, and lights for the absence of electricity. The offending noise will be caused by something on this circuit. Turn the breaker back on and wait for the noise to return.
3. With the noise back on, return to the area of the noisy circuit and unplug everything on this circuit one at a time until the offending device is found.
Things most commonly found to cause interference:
- Door bell transformers
- Electric blankets
- Heating pads
- Recessed ceiling lights
- Furnace control circuits
- Refrigerators
- Low energy (screw in) florescent lights
- Clean air machines (table top and furnace type)
- TV top amplified antennas
- Aquarium heaters
These devices, when causing interference, are in violation of Federal Communications Commission rules, regulations and can be a nuisance to you and your neighbors. It is important for your own benefit to have the offending device repaired or replaced to insure normal safe operation. Most radio and television interference sources are the result of an arc. This arcing could create a fire hazard and should be identified and repaired.
If the source of the interference could not be identified after completing these steps, please call Alliant Energy at 1-800-ALLIANT (800-255-4268) to request assistance from a technician.
Legal disclaimer:
By making use of any information on this webpage, you agree to the following:
NO WARRANTIES: All of the information provided on this website is provided "AS-IS" and with NO WARRANTIES. No express or implied warranties of any type, including for example implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose, are made with respect to the information, or any use of the information, on this site. Alliant Energy makes no representations and extends no warranties of any type as to the accuracy, reliability, suitability or completeness of any information or content on this website. Any reliance you place on this material is therefore strictly at your own risk.
DISCLAIMER OF LIABILITY: Alliant Energy specifically DISCLAIMS LIABILITY FOR INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES and assumes no responsibility or liability for any loss or damage suffered by any person as a result of the use or misuse of any of the information or content on this website. Alliant Energy assumes or undertakes NO LIABILITY for any loss or damage suffered as a result of the use, misuse or reliance on the information and content on this website.