EMF Education
Dirty Electricity
The Hidden Pollutant in Your Wiring
Dirty electricity refers to high-frequency voltage transients that contaminate standard 60 Hz power. It's one of the most overlooked EMF sources inside homes — and one of the most correctable.
What Is Dirty Electricity?
Standard household current in the U.S. runs at 60 Hz — a smooth, low-frequency sine wave. Dirty electricity consists of high-frequency spikes and surges (typically 2 kHz to 100 kHz) that are superimposed on that waveform. These transients travel along your home's wiring and can radiate EMFs into the living space, even from outlets that are not in use.
Common Sources in Modern Homes
LED lighting and CFL bulbs are among the biggest contributors — their electronic drivers chop the incoming current, creating significant high-frequency noise. Solar inverters, HVAC variable-speed drives, dimmer switches, switching power supplies (the bricks that power laptops and phone chargers), and smart meters all inject similar transients into the wiring. The more energy-efficient the device, the more likely it is to generate dirty electricity.
Health Research
Dr. Samuel Milham and Magda Havas have published research linking elevated dirty electricity levels to higher rates of fatigue, headaches, difficulty concentrating, irritability, and blood sugar disruption. Havas's work in Canadian schools showed measurable improvements in behavior and teacher wellbeing after dirty electricity filters were installed. Farmers have documented similar effects on livestock productivity in high-dirty-electricity environments.
Measurement
Dirty electricity is measured with a line noise meter — a device that plugs into a standard outlet and reads the high-frequency content of the power. Readings are expressed in Graham-Stetzer (GS) units. Values below 50 GS are generally considered acceptable; many homes in Florida test between 200 and 2,000 GS, with some exceeding 5,000 GS near solar inverters or in older wiring.
Mitigation
Passive plug-in filters (Stetzerizer or GreenWave style) can suppress transients at the outlet level. Replacing dimmer switches with standard on/off switches eliminates a common local source. In some cases, replacing LED bulbs with low-EMF incandescent or halogen alternatives in critical sleeping spaces produces a measurable reduction. A professional assessment identifies your highest-impact sources and recommends the most cost-effective combination of filters and changes.
Next Step
Test Your Home for Dirty Electricity
Serving Naples & Southwest Florida · Calibrated instruments · Written report included