Warning signs
Call a licensed electrician if the outlet is hot, loose, darkened, smells burnt, trips a breaker, shocks, buzzes, or sparks repeatedly.
- Hot outlet
- Burn marks
- Loose plug connection
- Breaker trips with the outlet
- GFCI will not reset
Outlet and receptacle troubleshooting
Outlet Sparks When Plugging In
A small flash can happen with some loads, but repeated sparking, heat, buzzing, discoloration, a loose outlet, or burning smell should be treated as a warning sign.
What Simon Electric checks
Simon Electric checks the receptacle, wiring, box, breaker, load, connections, and whether the problem points to replacement or deeper circuit troubleshooting.
Related problems
Service areas
Outlet proof videos
Common Questions
Should I use an outlet after it sparks?
Do not keep using it if sparking repeats, it smells hot, feels loose, or causes a breaker to trip.
Can Simon Electric replace outlets?
Yes. Simon Electric can troubleshoot and replace outlets when testing shows replacement is the correct repair.