Wondering why your outlet or plug is hot to the touch? An outlet may be hot or warm because of an overload of electricity, faulty wiring, a damaged plug, or an overloaded circuit. Have you come across an outlet that is hot in your home? These days it is something we see more and more. First, we should say, an outlet should never be too hot to touch. If it is, call us right away and we will guide you.
However, a warm outletmay not be a problem that needs an electrician.
When you come across a hot outlet, we suggest you unplug anything that is plugged into that outlet. Many devices, such as cell phone chargers and printers have built-in transformers. These transformers change the voltage input to a different voltage output and may cause the outlet to become warm to the touch. In this case, leave the devices unplugged for an hour or so and check again to see if the outlet has cooled. If so then it was probably caused by the device itself and is not your outlet. To be sure, plug in a lamp and check on the outlet in an hour. If it is still cool, then you are most likely okay.
What happens if we come back in an hour and the outlet is still hot?
Elevated outlet temperature with a single object or no objects plugged in suggests likely overload. In homes, series-wired circuits allow non-functional outlets to overload due to excessive demand on other outlets. This occurs when the electrical circuit carries a current beyond its capacity. Outlet overheating may precede circuit breaker tripping.
However, an old or worn-out outlet could have loose contacts or be touching behind the strike plate. A bad connection is dangerous because instead of tripping the circuit breaker it allows electrical current to flow. When this happens the outlet can become so hot you can't touch it without burning yourself and it can ultimately cause an electrical fire.
Why is my outlet warm with nothing plugged in?
A few reasons your electrical outlet feels hot include:
- Your circuit is overloaded.
- Damaged or improper wiring.
- You have a dimmer switch.
Although you can solve the first two reasons, dimmer switches will typically feel warmer than most outlets due to the type of use. Contact us today to find out more.
An outlet that's a bit warm is not overly concerning due to waste heat - BUT, anything very warm or hot to the touch should be checked out.
Why does the plug on my charger/appliance get hot?
A plug that becomes hot to the touch may be shedding "waste heat." This is energy that the plug cannot pass through to the appliance, so the plug itself begins to heat up. A warm plug is not overly concerning, but a HOT plug should be unplugged and investigated. A plug might get hot because it's loose and the appliance is asking for more electricity to operate correctly - this may be more energy than the plug can handle.
We recommend pulling a hot plug and leaving it unplugged until you can have a licensed electrician (or appliance repair person) check your unit & outlet. You can try plugging it into another outlet briefly to see if it continues to heat - this could be indicative of a problem with the appliance instead of the outlet - although both should be checked out.
What if my outlet is too hot to touch?
In this scenario, the first thing you need to do is find the breaker that controls that circuit and turn it off. This is where Haas and Sons Electric comes in. When you call us, we will come out and check the connections on that circuit to be sure they are safe. Sometimes they can be repaired and sometimes they may need to be replaced. We may also recommend you replace the outlet after the breaker connections are checked, just in case. We will be able to tell you that after doing an inspection. And we can usually fix the problem the same day.
