Why do plugs spark

If you feel one of your outlets is sparking badly, make sure to contact a licensed electrician as soon as possible, and never try to connect a plug to a damaged outlet.

General Plumbing. Schedule Service. Financing Options. Reading Time: 3 minutes Everyone who has plugged in an appliance in their lifetime has seen it — a short burst of blue light, a brief spark that occurs right as the plug and outlet start to connect. What Makes Outlets Start Sparking? What Is An Abnormal Spark? Big Sparks A very small spark is normal when connecting a plug to an appliance, so if you are seeing noticeable large sparks that appear to leap out of the plug socket, there is likely an issue that needs to be fixed.

Lengthy Sparks A spark should come and go in the blink of an eye. Different Colors Outlet sparks are blue, and should only be blue. Overloading Because your home is divided into different electrical circuits, it is possible to overload one specific circuit. Short-Circuits Inside a circuit there is a hot, neutral and ground wire. Wiring ages and as power runs through the wiring it gets warmer, if too much power, it over heats. Over the years, wiring getting warm and then cooling takes its toll on the insulation, the insulation eventually becomes brittle, develops cracks and may fall off of the wiring.

Once the insulation is damaged, then arcing may occur. Arcing produces tremendous heat, just like lightening, and this can cause a fire in walls with wood studs or other combustionable materials. Under-sized wiring for the current being carried can also cause heat build-up in wiring and results in the insulation melting, cracking or malfunctioning. Wiring undersized for the breaker and the load its carrying is a serious fire safety concern. Homes electrical circuits may have a number of outlets on them, at times too many for one circuit.

If a homeowner connects too many appliances, especially ones that have a big electrical draw onto one circuit or outlet, it may create excessive heating of the wires, resulting in damage to the insulation; this may result in arcing or even a fire.

Appliances with big power draws include space heaters, micro-waves, hair blow dryers, toasters, etc. Note that overloaded circuits, damaged insulation, and arcing can also cause smoke and burn marks on an outlet or the cover. There are AFCI breakers and outlets that are designed to trip shut off the power when they sense arcing.

The addition of a ground fault circuit interrupter GFCI can cut the power supply to an outlet if it detects water. Like all appliances and fixtures in your home, the electrical outlets will wear out over time. As your outlets age, they can become loose, worn, and outdated, creating an increased risk of sparking or short circuiting.

You can prevent this from happening by updating your wiring and replacing old appliances. Not only can it be dangerous, but the potential for performing a faulty repair is just too high and can cause issues later on.

Not only are these eyesores, but they are potential fire hazards and shock risks. Homes with older wiring are subject to wire damage through overheating, deterioration, or rodents chewing through insulation exposing the wire.

Exposed wires pose a risk of electric shock or electrocution. To prevent a house fire or further damage, we recommend shutting off the breaker for the affected outlet and then turning off and unplugging all appliances or devices in the affected outlet.

These tools allow you to see if there are any problems with the consistency of your electricity by checking for correct wiring, verifying the outlet can provide power, and testing the trip function for GFCI. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. This can be a rapid process, and can sometimes result in a small, brief spark of static electricity.

This is not something to worry about in most cases. Short circuits- if there is a fault or bad connection at some point in the electrical circuits of your property, the electricity can actually short circuit. This causes all of the electricity to pass a particular way, instead of being diverted along different paths.

This surge can cause sparks and you might even hear crackling. You may see sparks around a plug that is already switched on, and in use, or when you plug an appliance in.