An electrical burning smell is often described as hot plastic, or oddly, as fish. It comes from insulation and plastic parts overheating. Treat it as an emergency every time.
Do this first
- If you see smoke or flames, get everyone out and call 911.
- If there is no fire, switch off the breaker for that circuit. If you are not sure which one it is, switch off the main breaker.
- Unplug anything connected to the affected outlet once the power is off.
- Do not use the outlet, switch or circuit again until it has been checked.
- Call an emergency electrician.
What causes it
- A loose wire connection behind an outlet or switch that is arcing and overheating.
- A worn outlet that no longer grips plugs firmly.
- An overloaded circuit, often from space heaters or window air conditioners.
- A failing breaker or a burned connection inside the panel.
- Damaged or deteriorated wiring, particularly aluminum or very old cloth-insulated cable.
Why you should not wait
The smell may fade once the load is removed, which tempts people to carry on. The damaged connection is still there, and it will heat up again the next time current flows. Scorched outlets and melted wire insulation do not heal.
What the electrician will do
We open the affected boxes, find the overheated connection, cut back damaged wire and replace the device. If the panel is the source, we inspect the bus and breakers. Sometimes the right fix is breaker replacement. Sometimes it points to a larger issue that calls for an electrical panel upgrade or rewiring. Either way, you will know exactly what was found. Our 24 hour emergency electricians cover the whole state.