Static, crackling or noise on the phone line

If a single handset is affected by crackling or static then this points to the internal equipment in your house/office and you may be able to fix this problem yourself. If all your phones are affected, the noise is likely caused by external equipment and should be left to your phone provider.

One phone

These troubleshooting steps may help:

  1. If you have multiple phone sockets in your home or office, try plugging the affected handset into the master socket. If the noise disappears, it is likely to the original socket the phone was plugged into.

You have several options:

  • Your service provider may offer to replace this for free.
  • Hire an electrician to do it.
  • Replace the socket yourself.

All phones

If you have static, or a crackling noise on all phones, it is likely external equipment causing the problem and therefore it’s best to contact your service provider about the problem. in2tel customers can contact issue@in2tel.ie or call 0818 28 66 66 and press option 2, then option 1.

1. Faulty Wiring

Faulty wiring is one of the main causes of static and crackling noises on a phone line. Over time wires can become loose or damaged, generating small interruptions that result in crackling. To address this issue, you should contact your phone line service provider.

2. Weather

If you can hear a noise on the line during, or shortly after rain or lightning strikes, this could be caused by the weather.

The electricity in a Lightning strike can cause interference on a line, which results in an intermittent popping noise. Once the weather has passed the noise should go away.

If you experience crackling noise on your phone line frequently when it rains, the phone line will need to be inspected for water damage and your telephone provider should be contacted to do this for you. When speaking to an agent, state that it only occurs when it rains.

3. Other Devices on the line

If you have multiple devices using the phone line, such as a fax machine; try disconnecting these devices one at a time, to test if they are affecting the line. Other devices have been known to cause noise on the line, due to where they are located, or if they’re not connected correctly.