A burning smell from a socket

Updated 27 June 2026

Do this now

1. Do not use the socket, and do not pull a hot plug out with bare hands.
2. Switch that circuit off at the consumer unit. If you cannot identify it, switch off the main switch.
3. Open a window and leave the room if the smell is strong.
4. Call us on 0333 360 8583. If there is visible smoke or flame, call 999 first.

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.