A hot-plastic, fishy or burning smell near a socket is a warning sign, even when there is no smoke. Heat may be building at a loose connection, damaged plug, overloaded adaptor or failing appliance. Stop using it and treat visible smoke, flames or active sparking as an emergency.
Get everyone out, close the door if you can do so safely and call 999. Do not use water on electrical equipment and do not return for belongings.
What to do safely
Do not plug anything else into the socket, reset a repeatedly tripping circuit or keep testing the appliance.
Move people away from heat, smoke, buzzing or sparking. Do not touch a hot faceplate or damaged cable.
If the consumer unit is dry, accessible and away from the fault, switch off the affected circuit or main switch. Do not cross water or smoke to reach it.
Arrange urgent inspection before the socket or circuit is used again, even if the smell fades after isolation.
Signs the fault needs urgent attention
- Scorching, browning or melted plastic around a plug or socket
- A socket, switch, plug or cable that feels unusually warm
- Buzzing, crackling, popping or visible sparks
- A breaker that trips again after one reset
- Smoke, soot or a smell that returns when power is restored
- Water close to the affected fitting or circuit
Could it be the appliance?
Sometimes the smell starts inside an appliance or its plug rather than the fixed socket. Do not dismantle either. If there is no heat, damage or smoke and it can be reached safely, switch the appliance off and unplug it; otherwise isolate the circuit. Leave the appliance and socket unused until the source has been identified.
Do not hide the symptom
- Do not spray fragrance or cleaner around the fitting
- Do not replace a fuse with a higher rating
- Do not tighten, open or remove a socket faceplate unless you are competent to work on electrical installations
- Do not keep resetting the breaker to see whether it holds
- Do not move the same high-load appliance to an extension lead as a workaround
What the electrician will check
The electrician may inspect the plug and appliance, test the circuit, check the termination behind the socket and look for heat damage or overloading. A damaged accessory may be replaced quickly, but overheated cable or a recurring circuit fault needs wider investigation before power is restored.
For other warning signs, see when to call an electrician and our tripping fuse-board guide. If there is heat, scorching or a persistent burning smell, get an emergency electrician on the way.