What Would Cause an Outlet to Catch Fire? Grease fires, leaving the stove on, forgetting about a lit candle—these are all obvious fire hazards we expect and worry about in our homes. But what happens when seemingly out of nowhere, an outlet catches fire? What do you do, and what was the cause? Learn more […]
Grease fires, leaving the stove on, forgetting about a lit candle—these are all obvious fire hazards we expect and worry about in our homes. But what happens when seemingly out of nowhere, an outlet catches fire? What do you do, and what was the cause? Learn more about the common reasons an outlet might catch fire and other related questions.
The top causes of an outlet burning or catching fire include:
Old or outdated appliances. Similar to any other outdated electrical work in a home, outdated appliances can be just as much of a hazard. Whether it’s due to damaged wiring, hazardous material, outdated safety regulations, or incompatible wattage for outlets and wiring, old appliances can cause overheating, possibly leading to a fire.
Related Content: Which Household Appliance Causes the Most Fires?
What To Do if an Outlet Catches Fire
Yes. A dead outlet can be a sign that wires are loose or damaged. There could also be a short circuit, a faulty outlet, or a faulty breaker box. This could all result in a fire if not handled correctly.
However, a dead outlet could also simply mean the circuit is overloaded. Additionally, it could just be a faulty cord or appliance, or if it’s a GFCI outlet, it may just need to be reset.
Yes. If an outlet has already burned or sparked in some way, there’s likely faulty or damaged internal wiring somewhere. It’s best to call an emergency electrician right away to handle the issue.
It depends. If the outlet is severely water damaged, or the amount of current flowing through the water is high, it could result in a fire. Additionally, even if a small amount of moisture enters the outlet, it could result in corrosion over time. So, if recent water damage occurred in the home, it’s important to have a restoration specialist address it as quickly as possible.
Yes. This can happen for several reasons including those listed above such as faulty, damaged, or outdated wiring and receptacles. Regardless of whether something is plugged in, this damaged internal wiring can short-circuit and continue corroding, resulting in an unexpected fire.
Yes. A buzzing outlet is a sign that something isn’t working properly. Usually, this buzzing sound is coming from the vibrating caused by loose connections. These loose connections limit the proper flow of electricity and can result in damaged wiring and short-circuiting.
Yes. Unfortunately, by design, outlet covers create a greater risk of outlets overheating and potentially catching fire. While covers may be a helpful solution in childproofing outlets, it’s better to install childproof outlets that feature spring-loaded shutters when not in use.
The best way to prevent outlet fires in a home is by following these safety practices:
Related Content: What’s Your Fire Risk?
After an outlet fire, immediately contact an electrician to fully inspect the outlet and resolve any additional hazards in the home’s electrical wiring. Electrical repairs, replacements, or upgrades may be necessary.
From there, contact your home insurance agent to schedule restoration services to ensure any residue, smoke, or soot is safely removed. Our experts at Prism Specialties restore fire-damaged electronics, textiles, art, or documents.
Recover fire-damaged items with restoration services from Prism Specialties. Our experts use proprietary tools and techniques to fully remove, not mask, smoke and odors from items. We can restore and digitize data or documents to protect valuable information from these types of losses. Call (888) 826-9429 or submit a claim online.
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