Burning Smell From Your Electrics?
An electrical burning smell is never normal. It usually means something is overheating, and overheating wiring can start a fire. This page explains what to do right now, what causes it, and when to call us.
- Available 24 hours, every day
- Price agreed before we set off
- Source found and made safe
Act now if you notice any of these
- Smoke, flames or sparks near a socket, an appliance or the fuse box
- A strong burning smell, or one that is getting stronger
- A socket, plug or switch that is hot, discoloured or scorched
- Buzzing, crackling or popping from a socket or the consumer unit
- The smell appears whenever one appliance or circuit is in use
If there is smoke or fire, leave the building and call 999. Do not use water on anything electrical, and do not go back in to look for the source. If it is safe to reach the main switch, turn it off, then phone us.
What to do right now
Treat the smell as a warning, even if you cannot see anything wrong. Overheating often happens behind the wall plate or inside the consumer unit, where you cannot see it.
- If you can see smoke or flames, leave and call 999. Do not use water on an electrical fire.
- Switch off the affected circuit at the consumer unit, if you can reach it safely. If you cannot tell which circuit it is, switch off the main switch.
- Do not touch a socket, plug or switch that feels hot or looks scorched. Switch off at the consumer unit first, then leave it alone.
- Unplug an appliance only if the plug and socket are cool and undamaged. Otherwise leave it and switch off at the consumer unit.
- Open a window if it is safe, keep everyone away from the area and phone us. Tell us where the smell is strongest and what was running.
Do not switch the circuit back on to see whether the smell returns. If a loose connection is the cause, putting it back under load can make it worse.
Where the smell is coming from
A socket, plug or switch
The most common source. A loose connection behind the plate creates resistance, resistance creates heat, and the plastic starts to scorch. You may see brown marks around the socket, or notice that the plug is warm when you pull it out.
An overloaded extension lead or adaptor
Running a heater, kettle or tumble dryer through an extension lead or multi-way adaptor can overheat the lead and the socket behind it. High-power appliances should be plugged straight into a wall socket.
An appliance
A failing motor, a blocked fan or a worn heating element will smell hot well before it stops working. If the smell follows one appliance from room to room, that appliance is the problem. Stop using it.
The consumer unit (fuse box)
A loose terminal or a failing breaker can overheat inside the unit. This is less common but more serious, because everything in the property is fed through it. If the smell is strongest near the fuse box, switch off at the main switch if it is safe to reach, and call us.
Damaged or ageing wiring
Insulation that has perished, or a cable damaged by a nail, screw or rodent, can overheat or arc inside a wall. The first sign is often a smell with no visible source.
When a burning smell is not an emergency
Not every burning smell is a fault. Heaters, radiators and ovens that have not been used for months often smell for a few minutes as dust burns off the element. That smell is brief, fades quickly and comes only from the appliance. If it lasts longer than a few minutes, gets stronger, smells of hot plastic or hot metal, or comes from a wall, a socket or the fuse box, treat it as a fault.
Is it urgent?
| What is happening | What to do |
|---|---|
| Smoke, flames, sparks, or a hot, scorched socket | Leave if needed. Call 999 for a fire, then call us. |
| Strong burning smell from the fuse box or a wall | Switch off at the main switch if safe. Call now. |
| Smell from a socket or plug with no visible damage | Switch off that circuit. Call now. |
| Smell from one appliance only | Stop using it and book a visit. |
| Brief smell when a heater is first used after months | Usually dust. If it lasts, treat it as a fault. |
How we find the source
We start by making the circuit safe, then trace the smell. We check sockets, plug tops and switches for heat damage, look inside the consumer unit for loose or discoloured terminals, and test the circuit, including insulation resistance and earth fault loop impedance. The aim is to find the cause, not just replace the part that burned.
We carry the usual parts on the van, including sockets, switches, back boxes, breakers and cable, so many faults are repaired on the same visit. If we find damage beyond the part that smelled, such as scorched cable or a back box that has overheated, we tell you what it is and what it needs before going ahead.
What happens afterwards
A socket that has overheated once will do it again if the cause is not put right. Typical causes are a loose connection, a circuit carrying more than it should, or an old accessory. We fix the cause, and where the installation is old we may suggest an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR), which checks the whole system and gives you a written record. You should receive the appropriate certificate or report for the work.
What it costs
The cost depends on what we find. Replacing a scorched socket is a small job, while repairing damaged cable inside a wall or replacing a consumer unit is not. You get a fixed price before any work starts, and there is no extra charge for nights, weekends or bank holidays. If we find something further once the cover is off, we tell you what it is and why before going ahead.
Where we cover
We cover 83 towns and cities across England, including:
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Questions About Electrical Burning Smells
If what you are seeing is not here, phone and ask. It costs nothing to check.
Call 020 3411 2027Is a burning smell from a socket dangerous? +
Yes. It usually means a connection, or the plastic around it, is overheating, and that can lead to a fire. Switch off the circuit at the consumer unit and do not use the socket until it has been checked.
Can I keep using the socket if the smell is only slight? +
No. A slight smell is often the early stage of a loose connection, and the damage gets worse every time the socket carries a load. Leave it switched off until an electrician has looked at it.
Why does my fuse box smell of burning? +
Usually a loose terminal or a failing breaker is overheating inside the unit. Everything in the property is fed through it, so treat this as urgent: switch off at the main switch if it is safe to reach, and call.
Should I call 999 or an electrician? +
Call 999 if there is smoke, flames or sparks, or if you cannot make the area safe. If there is only a smell and no sign of fire, switch off the circuit and call an electrician.
Why does my heater smell of burning when I first switch it on? +
Dust that has built up on the element or inside the unit burns off the first few times it is used after a long break. It should fade within minutes. If it does not, or the smell gets stronger, stop using it.
Can you come out tonight? +
Yes. We work 24 hours a day, including weekends and bank holidays, at the same price as any other time.
Burning Smell Right Now?
One call, a fixed price before we start, and an electrician on the way.