Is it low voltage?

Describe the "energy efficient" bulb. Also, is it a regular switch or a dimmer?

For whatever reason, your power factor just went out the window. Your load is nowhere near linear. Now, that is not, in and of itself, a problem. However, if it's a dimmer switch and a type of bulb that isn't meant to be dimmed (even if you're running it at 100%), you do still have a problem.

{{!gwi}}

Is that what you mean by "squiggly"? (Minus the burnt part, of course)

If so, get them out of your bathroom. First off, Moisture getting into the electronics inside them is a major contributing factor to failures such as the burn mark in the picture. Second, that is EXACTLY the bulb I had in mind when I suggested that you may have bulbs that aren't intended for use with dimmers.

Check this out

And for the record, that bulb IS "fluorescent" - CFL (the bulb type) stands for "Compact Fluorescent Lamp". Someone just took a small fluorescent tube, coiled it up, and attached it to a 'ballast' with a screw base.

Yes, that is the bulb. I will be replacing them with the regular bulbs. After I do that, will the buzzing go away? Do I need to replace the switch? Is it a fire hazard?
Thank you so much for your help--and letting me know they were fluorescent. I thought they were only the long skinny lights.

I have had cfl bulbs in all my bathrooms for years with no problems. What you need to do is get rid of the dimmer switch which probably is the source of the buzzing. dimmer switches do not work with the compact florescent bulbs unless they are specified for use with a dimmer. these type are hard to find though. The electronics in these type of bulbs are sealed and work fine in a humid environment. I have also had them in outside fixtures that are open on the bottom and they have been out there for a couple of years and they still function fine. Plus they also work fine during the winter when it gets down around zero. They just take longer to warm up and they are not the outdoor cfl's

The electronics in these bulbs are sealed enough for the use in the slightly humid environment of a bathroom. the one bathroom we use them in presently has no bath fan and does get very humid and the bulbs in use have been in there for at least 2 years and not one of them has burnt out yet. Go ahead and use them AFTER removing the dimmer switch.

buddysmom; yes, I'm betting the buzzing noise will go away.

rjoh878646; the vast majority of CFL bulbs have their electronics sealed and will function okay in moist/damp environments. The ones that don't tend to fail violently or explosively. In my own applications, I just go with it. My basement will scare the bejeezus out of any electrician (or plumber, for that matter), but when making recommendations to others, I think it's best to err on the side of safety.

The CFLs in my unheated Maine basement take so long to warm up in the winter that I've been known to "help" them a little with a hair dryer.

I only buy brand name GE or sylvania. They all light up to full brightness in only a couple of minutes in the winter in the outdoor fixtures. I have had a couple of the older bulbs burn out but not explode. those bulbs were 5-6 years old and the original ones I purchased.

Good place to get them is sams club in the multi packs. very reasonable.

Even when fully on a regular dimmer still distorts the current waveform.

This can cause noise, poor operation of the light, and even overheating and fire.