Are Sparking Outlets Dangerous?

Wondering Why Your Outlet Sparks When Plugging In?

Not many homeowners think twice about the danger lurking behind their electrical outlets. It’s easy to take for granted the fact that we can just plug in and go about our lives without a care in the world.

But, why does my outlet spark when I plug something in? While a little spark when plugging in is relatively harmless, it can be indicative of a much larger problem in your home’s electrical system.

Here are three dangers of outlet sparks that you should be aware of.

1. Electrical Outlet Sparking Can Be a Fire Hazard

One of the most obvious dangers of sparks from outlet issues is that they’re a fire hazard. If there are uncontrolled outlet sparks, it’s possible that they could ignite something nearby and cause a house fire.

While this is unlikely to happen with one outlet, if you have multiple outlet sparks when plugging in devices throughout your house, the risk of fire goes up exponentially.

2. Sparking Outlets Become a Shock Hazard

Sparking outlets are also a shock hazard. If you plug something in and it sparks, that means there’s an electrical current running through it. And if you happen to touch that outlet while it’s sparking, you’re going to get an unpleasant shock.

This is especially dangerous if you have small children or pets in the house who might not know any better than to touch a sparking outlet.

3. Faulty Outlets Can Cause a Power Outage

Sparking outlets can also cause a power outage. If an outlet sparks enough, it can actually overload the circuit and cause a blackout.

This is especially problematic if you live in an area that gets a lot of storms or other weather-related power outages. Having your power go out once in a while is annoying enough, but having it go out every time there’s a storm can be downright frustrating.

Repair Your Electrical Outlets With the Top Electricians in Roanoke, VA

While sparks coming from your outlets may seem harmless, you may need an outlet repair. From fire hazards to shock hazards and power outages, sparking outlets can cause some serious problems in your home.

If you start seeing sparks, don’t hesitate to call our electricians at Ostrom Electrical Plumbing Heating & Air Conditioning to come take a look and figure out what’s going on.

Call (540) 685-4040 to schedule an appointment.