Should Electrical Outlets Be Warm To Touch

Keeping up with your home’s electrical system is an important thing to do. Most homeowners buy or build a home and just assume that all is well. If you have a home inspection done at least once a year, you can ensure that everything is in working order. Keep in mind that there are a lot of working parts in your home. Those working parts all require some type of electricity. If the electrical system was not wired correctly or has become damaged, you will begin seeing a variety of electrical failures. Also, you can notice some changes to your electrical system, just by touching your outlets after using a plug. Should electrical outlets be warm to touch? Electrical outlets should not be warm to the touch. This is a sign of an electrical issue.

Let’s take a look below at what usually causes an outlet to be warm to the touch.

What Is An Electrical Outlet

Electrical outlets are found all around your home. They are usually installed in a variety of locations to ease your electrical needs. In some homes, an electrical outlet is even installed in the flooring. This allows lamps to easily be plugged in and the cords are out of sight and not a trip hazard. Most electrical outlets are meant for 2 plugs at any time.

Why Would My Outlet Be Warm

There are a few reasons why your electrical outlets would be warm to the touch. As a homeowner, it is important to make sure that you hire an electrician if your outlets are warm to the touch. You wouldn’t want an unfortunate fire to start due to a wiring issue. Let’s take a look at the most popular reasons for an outlet to be warm to the touch.

• Multiple plugs in one outlet – if you don’t use a power surge protector for multiple plugs you risk too much electricity pumping through your one outlet.
• Wire damage – you could possibly have wire damage due to overloading of the electrical circuit or even rodents have chewed through the wires. These are items you would never know unless you have the proper inspections done.
• Break in the infrastructure – switches, and plugs can break in the outlet. This can cause an unnecessary transfer of heat to the outlet. The system should be fully inspected and the damaged outlet should be replaced.
• High demand on the circuit – if the electrical outlet is warm to the touch, this usually means there is too much of an electrical current flowing to an outlet. An electrician can rewire your outlet plugs so that they aren’t all on the same circuit.

How Much Do They Cost

Depending on who you hire as the electrician and how many outlets you need replacing can determine how much this can cost you. The national average cost ranges from $100 to $500. Just like with any repair or project, the prices vary by where you live. It will also depend on how much is needed, and the labor fee of the electrician.

Other Recommended Maintenance

Since you are checking outlets in the home, also take a look at the dimmer switch. If the dimmer switch is hot, then the wattage that it controls is more than that amount listed under the cover plate. This means it is overloading, hot, and a fire hazard. You will need to take care of this right away. If you are unsure as to what to do, reach out to a professional.

Sometimes the lights go out when we switch them on in our home. If your LED lights go out, not to worry as they are not likely to start a fire as they don’t generate a lot of heat. However, if these are in your teenager’s room, he/she may be upset if they are not working. Replacing them quickly may avoid a meltdown or argument. The good news is that a regular light bulb generates more heat, thus providing more of a hazard of a fire starting.

Lastly, if you happen to be checking the lightbulbs in your home to make sure you don’t come home to a dark house, you may notice a lightbulb exploded. This doesn’t happen often, but sure can! The main reason for a lightbulb to explode is that not enough insulation was put in it by the manufacturer and this can cause the bulb to heat up and explode. It can also be due to loose connections, excessive wattage, or oil. If you find this happened,

When Do I Call A Professional

Calling on a professional electrician when your outlets are warm to the touch is very important. The longer you delay in doing this the more risk you have of an outlet fire. If you don’t know how to put out an electrical fire, then it is probably best for you to call on a professional to avoid this from happening. Also, remember to call on your local home inspection team. They can conduct a full inspection of your electrical system and recommend any repairs before hiring an electrician. This allows you to ensure that you aren’t wasting money on various electrical replacements.

Conclusion

Knowing how your electrical outlets are supposed to feel to the touch is important for any homeowner. Just as important as that is knowing how to fix the issue if it arises. It is important to be aware of everything in your home and the working conditions. Hiring your local home inspection team can keep you safe and save you money. They will inspect all systems in your home and recommend the best course of action. Never put yourself in danger of a house fire due to a bad electrical system. We can take a look at your electrical panel and outlets when conducting home inspections in the Castle Rock and Front Range areas.