Burning smell or sparks from a socket: what to do right now
Quick answer
Switch off at the main switch on your fuse board and do not touch the socket or pull the plug. Never use water on an electrical fault. If you can see flames or smoke, get everyone out and call 999 first. Otherwise, call an emergency electrician: we answer 24/7 on 07703 295654.
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Turn off the main switch
Go to your fuse board, usually in the hall, under the stairs or in a cellar, and turn off the big main switch. That cuts every circuit and stops the fault getting worse.
If you cannot reach the board safely, switch the socket off at the wall without touching the plug, then keep everyone away from it.
A fishy, hot or acrid plastic smell with no flame is still urgent. It usually means insulation is cooking somewhere you cannot see.
- 2
No water, and do not pull the plug
Water conducts electricity and turns a socket fault into a shock risk. Do not pull the plug out of a socket that is sparking or smells hot either: the pins may be welded or the faceplate live. Cut the power at the board instead.
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Know when it is a fire brigade call
Visible flames, smoke from a wall or fitting, or scorch marks that are spreading mean 999 before anything else. Get everyone out, close doors behind you and call from outside. Electrical fires can grow inside walls where you cannot see them.
No flames and no smoke, just the smell or a spark you saw? That is our job. Leave the mains off and call us.
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What we do when we arrive
We find the source, isolate the damaged circuit and replace what has burned, usually the socket and sometimes a section of cable. You get the rest of the house back on during the same visit wherever possible.
Related questions
Why does my socket smell like fish?
A fishy smell is a classic sign of overheating plastic or bakelite in a socket, plug or fitting. It is not something to sleep on. Switch off at the main switch and call an electrician.
Is a socket that feels warm dangerous?
A plug with a heavy appliance can get slightly warm, but a faceplate that is hot to the touch, discoloured or crackling is overheating. Stop using it, switch off the circuit and have it checked.
Can a sparking socket start a fire?
Yes. Arcing at a loose terminal can reach temperatures that ignite plastic and dust behind the faceplate. That is why the first step is always cutting the power.