Why Is My Socket Not Working?

A dead socket is one of the most common electrical problems in a home. Sometimes the fix is as simple as resetting a switch in the consumer unit. Sometimes it is a sign of a loose connection or a fault on the circuit that needs an electrician. This guide walks through the likely causes in order and is clear about where your checks should stop.

Stop first if you notice any of these

If the socket or plug is warm to the touch, looks scorched or discoloured, smells of burning, crackles or buzzes, don't use it. If it is safe to reach, switch off at the main switch in the consumer unit and call an electrician. Don't try to open the socket.

Check one: has something tripped?

Look at the consumer unit. A tripped RCD or circuit breaker (MCB) will have its switch in the down or off position. Check the labels to see which one covers the sockets in question. Reset it once. If it trips straight away, or the next time you plug something in, leave it off; there is a fault somewhere. Our guide why does my RCD keep tripping explains more about RCD trips on socket circuits.

Check two: is it the appliance?

Plug a different appliance you know works, such as a phone charger or lamp, into the same socket. If it works, the problem is the first appliance or its plug fuse, not the socket. If several appliances fail in that socket but work elsewhere, the socket or its circuit is at fault.

Check three: is it on a spur or fused unit?

Some sockets are fed from a fused connection unit, a switched plate with a fuse, often near a kitchen worktop or a boiler. If that switch is off or its fuse has failed, the sockets beyond it will be dead. Check that any such switch nearby is on. If the fuse keeps failing, that is a fault for an electrician to trace rather than a fuse to keep replacing.

Possible cause: a loose connection

Over time, connections inside a socket can work loose, particularly where heavy loads like heaters have been used. A loose connection can stop the socket working, make it intermittent or cause heating. This is not a DIY job. If the socket shows any warmth or marking, stop using it and get it checked.

Possible cause: a fault on the ring circuit

Most UK homes have sockets wired on a ring circuit, a loop that starts and ends at the consumer unit. A break in the ring can leave some sockets working and others dead, or leave them working but overloaded on one leg. Finding it means testing the circuit with instruments, which is what our fault finding service does.

When to call us

Call if a reset doesn't help, the RCD keeps tripping, several sockets are dead, or there are any signs of heat or burning. Tell us what you have already checked; it saves time on the visit. If the real problem is not enough sockets, see extra sockets.

Extension leads and adaptors

Many socket problems are really overloading problems. A block adaptor with a heater, kettle and hairdryer plugged into it can draw more than a single socket is meant to supply, overheating the plug, the socket or the adaptor itself. Daisy-chained extension leads behind a television are another common culprit. If you find yourself relying on adaptors, unplug what you don't need, never plug heaters into extension leads, and consider having more sockets fitted. Cracked socket fronts and loose plugs that fall out of the socket also need replacing by an electrician.

A note on sockets near water

Sockets in kitchens, utility rooms and near outside doors are more exposed to splashes and damp. If a socket near a sink stops working after it has been wiped down or splashed, switch it off at the consumer unit and leave it. Water inside a socket is dangerous. Let it be checked rather than drying it out and switching it back on. The same goes for outdoor sockets after heavy rain if the cover was open. Leave it off and call.