As you continue to deep clean your house this spring as well as examine your home using our electrical safety spring cleaning checklist (which you can read here), make sure to also check all of the outlets in each room of your home.
You may be wondering how to recognize when it is time to replace an outlet. Have no fear, we are here to help you identify the signs that it is time to upgrade your old and tired outlet for a safer home!
There are several things to check for that will indicate that it is time to replace an outlet:
- Two-prong outlets- If your outlet only has two-prongs, it is time to update to a three-prong outlet. Two-prong outlets are ungrounded which leaves you vulnerable to a shock risk and places your electronics at risk of damage. When changing to a three-prong outlet, you must also rewire your electrical panel to provide the ground to make the older outlet safe.
- Outlet is hot- If your outlet feels warm to the touch, this is a sign of electrical trouble. This could mean there are damaged, loose, or old wires behind the wall which could in turn, be a fire hazard for your home.
- Plugs do not stay put- If you plug an appliance into an outlet and it falls out or is not a snug fit, the contacts within this outlet are worn. This creates a loose connection and can put your home at risk of a house fire. If your outlets are loose, it is time to replace them.
- Discoloration- If you notice that any of the outlets in your home or the walls around outlets are discolored, it needs to be replaced. This could indicate that an outlet may have burned, incurred damage, or have been improperly installed. Do not use any outlet that is discolored and turn off power to a discolored outlet immediately. It is time to have this outlet inspected by an electrician!
- Smoke or smells- If you plug an appliance into an outlet and see a spark or smell something burning, please contact an electrician to have this outlet inspected and replaced. Your outlet could be short circuiting or have received water exposure. Any popping sounds are also extremely dangerous and power to the outlet should be turned off immediately until the outlet is inspected or replaced.
- Faulty GFCI- If you test your GFCI outlet (which you can read about here) and the outlet does not trip, you are no longer being protected and should have the outlet replaced. GFCI outlets only last around 10 years and around 5 if you are in an area with significant and frequent storms. As you can see from this photo, the GFC is no longer safe. This is due to the grounding pin on the left being broken off and heat build up on the right side. It is important to check all GFIs monthly.
If you are unsure about the safety regarding your current outlets, please do not hesitate to call us at Anchor Electric and we would be happy to come out for a home inspection. Get on our schedule today! 386-313-6211