Quick answer
A burning smell from a socket or plug means something is overheating — usually a loose terminal, a damaged plug top, or an extension lead carrying more than it is rated for. Overheating precedes ignition, so this is a live fire hazard right now. Switch the circuit off at the DB board, unplug everything, and do not use that socket again until it has been inspected.
Common causes
- Loose terminal inside the socket arcing and heating
- Damaged or worn plug top with poor contact pressure
- Overloaded extension lead or multi-plug adaptor
- Undersized cable feeding a high-draw appliance
- Aged socket with weakened contact springs no longer gripping the pins
- Appliance fault drawing more current than the socket is designed to deliver
What you can do now
- 1Switch that circuit off at the DB board immediately
- 2Unplug everything from the socket once the circuit is dead
- 3Look for browning, melting or scorch marks around the socket face and the plug pins
- 4Do not use the socket again until it has been replaced and tested
- 5Photograph any visible damage before anything is replaced
When to call a professional
Call immediately — this is a fire risk, not a maintenance item. A registered electrician will replace the socket, check the terminations and the cable behind it for heat damage, and verify the circuit is correctly rated for what is being plugged into it. If a heater or kitchen appliance was on an extension lead, ask for a properly rated permanent socket instead.
Typical cost in Johannesburg
Socket replacement R450–R650 · Cabling varies
Indicative ranges only. We provide written, itemised quotes before any work.
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