A burning smell from a socket
This is the one fault we treat as an emergency every single time. Arcing connections start fires.
Do this now
- Do not use the socket, and do not pull a hot plug out with bare hands.
- Switch that circuit off at the consumer unit. If you cannot identify it, switch off the main switch.
- Open a window and leave the room if the smell is strong.
- Call us on 01273 095564. If there is visible smoke or flame, call 999 first.
Never throw water at an electrical fire, and never plaster over or tape up a scorched accessory to deal with later. Heat marks mean the connection has already been arcing for some time.
Why sockets burn
Almost always, a terminal screw has worked loose. A loose terminal has resistance, resistance under load makes heat, heat degrades the connection further, and the cycle accelerates. The characteristic fishy smell is the flame retardant in the plastic beginning to break down.
Common triggers we find:
- High current appliances on an old or worn socket, particularly heaters, tumble dryers and kettles
- Aluminium or undersized conductors terminated in a socket designed for standard copper
- Loose connections at a spur, or a socket fed from a poorly made joint under the floor
- Extension leads left coiled while running a heater, so the cable cannot lose heat
- Damage from furniture pushed hard against a plug for years
What we do about it
We isolate and remove the accessory, inspect the conductors for heat damage, cut back to sound copper where the insulation has been cooked, and check the rest of the circuit for other overheated terminals. A single burnt socket is often not the only loose connection on that ring.
Then we test the circuit properly and issue a minor works certificate recording what was replaced and what the readings were afterwards.
Still not right? Our emergency line is answered around the clock on 01273 095564. If it can wait until morning, we will tell you.
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Trusted emergency electricians in Sussex
We have been covering Sussex for 25 years. In that time the wiring regulations have moved through several editions and consumer units have changed shape more than once, while the faults themselves have stayed much the same: loose connections running hot, tired cable, and protection that was never fitted in the first place.
That experience is the difference between guessing and knowing. It is also why we can usually tell you on the phone whether a fault needs a van tonight or a booking on Tuesday, which saves you the out of hours rate more often than you might expect.
TO CONFIRM: add the year you started trading, your scheme registration number and your public liability cover. Only list credentials you can evidence.