Why would a socket stop working?

1) 5 common reasons

• Loose wiring
• Poor or failed contacts in the socket
• Melted connections or wiring at the back of the socket
• Switch in the socket has failed
• Circuit breaker has tripped
• Any of these is a possibility.

2) How do I fix it?

I strongly recommend that an electrician is called to investigate the issue as electricity is dangerous. A lack of experience, knowledge, test equipment and ability to operate it can all combine into a dangerous situation. 

We are able to investigate these types of issues for you safely and with minimal intrusion or fuss. 

3) Is it safe to use a burnt plug?

Absolutely not. Under no circumstance should a plug or socket be used if it is melted, burnt or cracked.  These types of problems are indicative that something in the electrical installation is not right and is causing issues. 
Burnt plugs or sockets can mean that there has been excessive power demand and caused overheating. It can mean that loose connections have caused a high resistance joint leading to excessive heat being generated and burning to occur. 

Cracked sockets can be a result of over tightening of the screws that hold it in place, excessive mechanical force has been applied to the socket face or some kind of accidental damage has occurred. Regardless of how the damage has come about, a cracked socket is a fragile socket and a further knock can expose live parts meaning electric shock potential. 

4) All the sockets have stopped working!

If all the sockets have stopped working then there may be an electrical fault that needs investigation. In the first instance it is wise to check the consumer unit to see if any switches have tripped. 

If a switch has tripped, see if it will reset. If it won’t then it is a good idea to follow our help sheet:

https://www.electricalfaultsfixed.co.uk/helpsheet/help-my-house-electrics-are-tripping 

If no switches have tripped and you have no sockets then you will need to give us a call as this is a problem that an electrician needs to investigate. Why would a socket stop working? We will find out and tell you. 

5) Are Skirting Board Sockets safe?

Sometimes they are not. It depends on the installation. If they are installed very close to the floor the whenever anything is plugged into them the cord of the appliance will easily become damaged due to the excessive mechanical bending forces applied to the cord. The proximity to the floor can be a real issue. There is also the risk of water ingress from a mop or a hoover being bashed against these sockets. 

Skirting board sockets are also generally indicative of an aging wiring system as sockets have not been installed in this manner for many decades. An electrical inspection may be a good idea to see if any hidden problems are lurking. Many of our clients admit to worrying about the condition of their electrical system yet many people do not know that an electrician can come and perform a thorough and formal inspection to find out if there are any problems. You can read more about electrical inspections here:

https://www.electricalfaultsfixed.co.uk/helpsheet/eicr-what-expect 

6) My outdoor socket has stopped working

When outdoor sockets are added to an electrical installation, the electrician carrying out the work will sometimes install a switch to prevent the socket from being used when the homeowners are not in the property or to provide a means of isolation for the socket should there ever be a problem. 

It is common for furniture to push up against these switches and turn them off. Just check inside your house for a possible electrical switch that may control this outdoor socket. If the switch is in the off position then turn it on and see if that solves the problem. 

If the switch is in the “on” position then perhaps check the fuse and replace to see if the fuse had blown. It is common for these switches to be fused and there could be a simple case of an incorrectly sized fuse that has been installed and blown under load. 

7) Socket in the hall has gone off

Going back a few years there were fewer sockets in our homes. These tended to be in areas where there would be regular use and as such, sockets in halls were rarely installed. As a result, when an electrician was called to install a socket in the hall, they would often put that socket on its own circuit and circuit breaker. It may be worth checking the fuse board to see if a circuit breaker has tripped and If it is also correctly labelled.

8) Washing machine / Dishwasher socket has gone off!

These sockets were often installed in such a manner that they could be turned off by another switch. Heavy appliances prove difficult to move when full of water and malfunctioning. It is for this reason that electricians often installed a separate switch for these sockets somewhere local and accessible to the user of the electrical installation. Have a check around the kitchen / utility room for a switch, fused switch and so on. If the switch has been knocked off (common with laundry baskets) then turn it back on. Also check the fuse to see if it has blown. 

9) Why would a socket stop working? 

Sometimes you may decide...I need an electrician

If you have tried a few things and simply need us to come out then call us to book and we will be happy to attend to your problem an investigate for you.