Homes rely on internal wiring to power all the essentials of modern life. Your outlets are wired to provide grounded power for appliances, phone chargers, power tools, and anything else you might use in your daily routine. Most of the time, outlets are cool to the touch or slightly warm with electricity running behind the plastic panel.
However, if your outlet is quite warm or hot to the touch, this could be a potentially dangerous electrical problem. At JDP Electric, we respond to repair, installation, and electrical safety calls in the Fargo-Moorhead, and can provide a few important tips on what to do if an outlet or light switch feels hot when you touch the panel.
Why Electrical Outlets May Be Warm or Hot
Behind your outlet cover is a set of electrical connections wired in series. This means that all the outlets on a particular circuit are wired in a row instead of on separate parallel mini-circuits. The more electricity that runs through a circuit, the warmer the wires behind each panel can become.
Most of the time, the number of outlets and their potential output balances out to ensure no circuit is overloaded. However, loose connections, aging wires, or certain power-hungry plugs can cause your outlet (and other outlets in the circuit) to heat up. This is why a slightly warm outlet is usually OK, but a noticeably warm outlet could be a sign of trouble.
Causes for a Hot Electrical Outlet or Switch
Overloaded Circuit & Power Strips
The wires in each outlet circuit are rated for a certain amount of electricity running through them. But if too much power is demanded by plugged-in appliances, this can cause the circuit to
overload. As we mentioned, most circuits are designed with the right number of plugs so that normal appliances cannot overload the system. But high-consumption appliances or an over-use of power strips – which add demand to each circuit with extra plugs – can overload the circuit and cause an outlet to become hot.
Try unplugging power strips and appliances from your outlet, starting with the largest power consumers, and see if your outlets cool down.
Loose or Aging Wiring
Power outlets are safe when they are safely wired. However, wires age and coiled connections can come loose over time. Faulty wiring can lead to an incorrect and potentially dangerous electricity flow behind your outlet panel.
If unplugging items from the outlets does not cool down the plate, or if lights and appliances keep burning out; be careful! Turn off the breaker to the circuit immediately and call for a professional electrician to check out the wiring.
Charger Boxes
Cellphone chargers and other “box” plugins convert the voltage coming from the wall to a different voltage/amperage, which can cause the box and the outlet to heat up. Remove box-style plugins from a hot outlet and see if it cools down. If so, try the charger in another outlet and see if the problem repeats in the new location. This indicates a high-heat conversion rather than a problem with your outlet.
Dimmer Switches
Dimmer light switches tend to run hotter than normal light switches. If you have a dimmer switch that is warm to the touch, this is normal. However, if it is hot or quite warm, consider turning off the circuit at the breaker box and calling for an electrical inspection of the switch. If the light bulbs keep burning out, switch of the breaker and call for repairs immediately, for your safety.
Faulty Power Plugs
Power plugs and power cords can become damaged and then may not work correctly when plugged into an outlet. Anything plugged into a hot outlet should be checked to ensure the prongs of the plug are straight and undamaged, that all the sheathing is in place, and that no damage seems to have occurred at the plug or along the cord.
Do not use damaged plugs or cords, have them replaced or repaired whenever possible. Especially if they cause your outlet to heat up.
When to Call an Electrician About a Hot Outlet
Outlets can become warm with normal use. However, if your outlet remains hot after plugs are removed along the circuit, if the circuit burns out lightbulbs and appliances, or if the outlet heats up any time something is plugged into it’s outlet circuit, there is likely a dangerous wiring problem afoot. Switch off the entire circuit at the breaker box and seek a professional electrician service immediately.
If you live or work in the Fargo-Moorhead area where the outlet is located, contact JDP Electric for an immediate electrical inspection and outlet/circuit repair.