Outlet Smells Like Burning: 5 Reasons Why

Find the answers to your burning questions about outlet problems

Burned electrical wall outlet
PM Images / Stone / Getty Images
Burned electrical wall outlet
PM Images / Stone / Getty Images
Highlights
  • An outlet that smells like burning indicates an electrical problem with the outlet or wiring and may pose a fire risk.

  • Always turn off the breaker and unplug any devices from an outlet with a burning smell.

  • A licensed electrician can safely identify and fix the cause of the burning smell.

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When to Call a Pro

Never ignore a burning smell coming from your outlet—it can be a sign of a serious electrical problem and a fire risk that can put your home and safety in jeopardy. Unless you have experience troubleshooting and repairing electrical problems, call a professional electrician. Improperly performed DIY electrical work runs the risk of serious injury or even a house fire. 

A qualified electrician can answer all your questions about repairing outlets, track down the source of the burning smell, and repair the issue in compliance with codes and regulations. 

How to Prevent a Burning Outlet Smell

Ensuring your home’s electrical system is well maintained is the best way to prevent burning smells from electrical problems. If your home is older and the electrical system hasn’t been maintained, call an electrician to perform an inspection and identify any existing or potential problems. 

In addition, avoid overloading outlets with too many devices or anything that has higher wattage than the outlet can supply. Periodically inspect your outlets to ensure everything is in working order and nothing looks singed, melted, or discolored. Most importantly, address any problems as soon as you notice them—the longer you wait to fix an electrical problem, the more your home and safety are at risk.

Power cords in outlet
Raimund Koch / The Image Bank / Getty Images

When to Call a Pro

Never ignore a burning smell coming from your outlet—it can be a sign of a serious electrical problem and a fire risk that can put your home and safety in jeopardy. Unless you have experience troubleshooting and repairing electrical problems, call a professional electrician. Improperly performed DIY electrical work runs the risk of serious injury or even a house fire. 

A qualified electrician can answer all your questions about repairing outlets, track down the source of the burning smell, and repair the issue in compliance with codes and regulations. 

How to Prevent a Burning Outlet Smell

Ensuring your home’s electrical system is well maintained is the best way to prevent burning smells from electrical problems. If your home is older and the electrical system hasn’t been maintained, call an electrician to perform an inspection and identify any existing or potential problems. 

In addition, avoid overloading outlets with too many devices or anything that has higher wattage than the outlet can supply. Periodically inspect your outlets to ensure everything is in working order and nothing looks singed, melted, or discolored. Most importantly, address any problems as soon as you notice them—the longer you wait to fix an electrical problem, the more your home and safety are at risk.

Electrician installing a power outlet
Hispanolistic / E+ / Getty Images

When to Call a Pro

Never ignore a burning smell coming from your outlet—it can be a sign of a serious electrical problem and a fire risk that can put your home and safety in jeopardy. Unless you have experience troubleshooting and repairing electrical problems, call a professional electrician. Improperly performed DIY electrical work runs the risk of serious injury or even a house fire. 

A qualified electrician can answer all your questions about repairing outlets, track down the source of the burning smell, and repair the issue in compliance with codes and regulations. 

How to Prevent a Burning Outlet Smell

Ensuring your home’s electrical system is well maintained is the best way to prevent burning smells from electrical problems. If your home is older and the electrical system hasn’t been maintained, call an electrician to perform an inspection and identify any existing or potential problems. 

In addition, avoid overloading outlets with too many devices or anything that has higher wattage than the outlet can supply. Periodically inspect your outlets to ensure everything is in working order and nothing looks singed, melted, or discolored. Most importantly, address any problems as soon as you notice them—the longer you wait to fix an electrical problem, the more your home and safety are at risk.

When to Call a Pro

Never ignore a burning smell coming from your outlet—it can be a sign of a serious electrical problem and a fire risk that can put your home and safety in jeopardy. Unless you have experience troubleshooting and repairing electrical problems, call a professional electrician. Improperly performed DIY electrical work runs the risk of serious injury or even a house fire. 

A qualified electrician can answer all your questions about repairing outlets, track down the source of the burning smell, and repair the issue in compliance with codes and regulations. 

How to Prevent a Burning Outlet Smell

Ensuring your home’s electrical system is well maintained is the best way to prevent burning smells from electrical problems. If your home is older and the electrical system hasn’t been maintained, call an electrician to perform an inspection and identify any existing or potential problems. 

In addition, avoid overloading outlets with too many devices or anything that has higher wattage than the outlet can supply. Periodically inspect your outlets to ensure everything is in working order and nothing looks singed, melted, or discolored. Most importantly, address any problems as soon as you notice them—the longer you wait to fix an electrical problem, the more your home and safety are at risk.

Frequently Asked Questions

An electrical fire can start even if nothing is plugged into the outlet. Fires can be caused by faulty wiring, damaged outlet components, or other electrical problems hidden behind the walls. At the first sign of an electrical problem, shut off the breaker and contact an electrician to diagnose and repair the issue.

A breaker won’t always trip if an outlet burns out. If the outlet is overloaded or has a short circuit, the breaker is designed to trip and discontinue power to the outlet. However, some wiring problems that can burn out an outlet may not cause the breaker to trip, so don’t rely on it as a signal that something is wrong.

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