A socket that is unsafe usually gives you warning signs before it fails, and knowing them can prevent a fire. The ones to act on are a socket that feels warm or hot to the touch, any scorching, staining or melting around the pins or faceplate, a burning or fishy smell, a faceplate that is cracked or loose in the wall, or plugs that fall out or spark when you insert them. A socket that has stopped working altogether can also point to a loose connection behind it, and loose connections are exactly what generate the heat that leads to scorching. If you spot any of these, stop using that socket.
Warmth and scorching almost always trace back to a loose or deteriorated connection, and while it looks minor it is one of the most common causes of electrical fires in the home, so it is worth taking seriously. We trace and repair faults like this across Cheltenham, Gloucester and the surrounding towns, testing with calibrated equipment to find the exact cause rather than simply swapping the faceplate and hoping. As a NICEIC Approved Contractor we make anything dangerous safe straight away, repair it properly and certify the work, with a fixed price agreed before we start.
Warmth and scorching
A socket that is warm to the touch or shows scorch marks has a loose connection heating up behind it. Stop using it.
Smell, sparks and cracks
A burning smell, sparking as you plug in, or a cracked or loose faceplate all mean the socket needs attention.
Fixed at the cause
We trace the actual fault with test gear and repair it properly, rather than swapping the faceplate and hoping.
Your questions, answered
My socket is warm to the touch. Is that a problem?
Yes, treat it as one. A warm socket almost always means a loose or deteriorated connection heating up behind the faceplate, which is a leading cause of electrical fires. Stop using it and have it checked before you plug anything back in.
A socket has stopped working. Is it dangerous?
It can be. A dead socket often points to a loose connection on the circuit, and those generate heat, so it is not something to leave. We can usually trace and repair it in a single visit and certify the fix.
Should I just replace the socket myself?
A new faceplate does not fix a loose connection deeper in the circuit, and getting it wrong can make things worse. We find the actual cause with proper testing, put it right and certify the repair, so you know it is genuinely safe.
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