Damaged Plug Socket

1) Is a Damaged Plug Socket Dangerous?

A damaged plug socket can be very dangerous and should be replaced without delay. Damage to a plug socket outlet could lead to fire, electric shock or burns. Once an electrical accessory such as a plug socket or light switch becomes damaged is should be swapped out immediately. 

2) How do I know if my socket is damaged?

The most common signs of a damaged electrical socket are:

• Scorch or Burn Marks on Socket 
• Not working correctly
• Not holding a plug in firmly
• Crackling Plug Socket 
• One side of the socket outlet is not working
• Plug Socket has melted 
• Actual Mechanical Damage to Plug Socket 
• Plug Socket Flashes 
• Plug Socket has ‘Fused’ 

A damaged plug socket (or any electrical outlet) should be replaced whenever it appears to be looking or operating outside of what is expected as normal. Any flashes, crackling, burning, melting, visible damage or liquids spilled into the socket are all signs that it now needs to be replaced. 

Electrical plug sockets that no longer hold a plug firmly are a danger as they make poor electrical contact which leads to high temperatures and electrical fires. Sockets that intermittently work will also need replacing or as a minimum investigating as there are likely loose connections at the terminals on the rear or internally to the plug socket leading to partial or intermittent failure. Again, a fire hazard.  

4) Can a Faulty Socket Cause a Fire?

When a wall socket goes bad there can be many an electrical issue that has occurred. Short Circuits in a wall outlet or anywhere in the electrical system can cause miniature explosions until the circuit is disconnected by the electrical panel or consumer unit. 
Without a modern electrical panel or consumer unit, there could easily be a fire when a socket goes faulty. The most up to date electrical equipment in consumer units means that electrical faults like arcing, short circuits and earth faults are detected quickly and disconnected immediately. 

If the Faulty Socket has no EARTH connection then despite the best electrical protection at the consumer unit or electrical panel there is risk of electric shock and fire under fault conditions and the electrical system will likely not disconnect the circuit either!

5) Can you replace plug sockets yourself?

Generally speaking, NO. Whilst the job may appear simple, the average DIY person has neither the experience nor equipment to carry out the REQUIRED testing following replacement to ensure that the circuit is safe following the work. 

Anyone working on an electrical circuit has the responsibility to ensure that the circuit is safe following any works and should carry out checks to ensure that there are no hidden faults.

IS it LEGAL to change your own plug socket? Interesting article 

Then there is the physical act of replacing the socket, safely isolating the circuit and PROVING dead. Also, when there is one single cable (3 wires) it is straightforward assuming there is enough undamaged length on the cable but when there are 2 or more cables it becomes more and more difficult to safely replace the outlet without causing further damage to the wiring. 

It is best to contact a licensed electrician to carry out this job for you. They will not only replace the outlet safely but will be able to install a high-quality new socket, check for any issues and ensure that there is no loose connection once the socket is installed. 

6) Is it safe to use a Damaged Plug Socket?

NO. If you have a cracked, split, burnt or otherwise damaged plug socket then it is NOT safe to use. A badly damaged plug socket can lead to fire, electric shock or death in certain circumstances. The plug socket below caused the owner a serious electric shock. They had forgotten the outlet was damaged and had continued to use it. When they reached behind the freezer to unplug the appliance they received a very nasty shock which could have been much worse.

7) Can I tape up a damaged socket?

As a very temporary measure to ensure safety a damaged socket can be taped up. I must add that the electricity supply to the bad outlet should be turned off and the electrical box and the supply proved dead with a suitable voltage tester. 
The socket should also not be damaged like the photograph above. This is far too damaged to even contemplate making safe. If the socket outlet is very badly damaged then an emergency electrician should be called to replace the outlet and test the circuit afterwards. 

If the outlet is cracked on a corner or across the front then its normally ok to tape and get a replacement as soon as possible whilst still not using that particular socket. 

Once the socket is safely taped up the power supply can be reinstated but the socket should still not be used until a qualified electrician has installed a new outlet. 

8) Why would a plug socket become cracked?

One of the most common reasons for a cracked plug socket is actually a build up of heat within the socket or behind the socket in the wiring terminals. The electrical contacts within the socket can become dirty over time, can wear out or become loose and cause the contact points to become ‘hot-spots’ resulting in overheating and burning. Old outlets should be replaced every so often. 

Another reason for heat being generated is loose wires at the rear of the plug socket. A crack in a plug socket is often mistaken for a knock or bang on the front. Many people will continue to use the socket oblivious to the heating up and burning of wires behind! 

Any burning smell should be investigated immediately and a certified electrician called to check any suspicious electrical problems. 

9) Will a damaged plug socket trip a breaker?

If you have an RCD or GFCI plug socket installed then it MAY trip itself during damage or overheating BUT not necessarily. Faulty outlets will not always result in a tripped breaker or blown fuse in the consumer unit or service panel. 

A lot of dependence is put upon the consumer unit or fuse box but understand that in older homes with older electrical installations, the technology for detecting faulty outlets, electrical arcing or poor wiring. The newer the circuit breaker panel or consumer unit, the better it will be at detected serious electrical issues, protecting you from fire, electrical shock and other major issues. 

10) Summary

It is always a good idea paying for a professional electrical service to investigate, repair or replace damaged power sockets, carry out electrical repairs and check faulty outlets. 

Whilst electrical parts are available for sale freely and information is available on the internet, q & a communities and video sites to enable you to carry out some electrical work, there is a lot of misinformation regarding the work required.

There is rarely any mention of testing, inspection or regulations compliance when carrying out DIY electrical repairs and as such, the risks are never properly explained. 

An electrical contractor should be able to carry out any electrical repairs to a high standard and where required, provide a certificate for the works to give you peace of mind that testing has been carried out and the electrical system has been certified as safe. 

This is also a useful document for proving maintenance of the electrical system should an insurance claim later arise in the property. Will your home owners insurance cover electrical repairs? 

If you have any questions about damaged plug sockets, contact us here at Electrical Faults Fixed.