Why do my electrical outlets heat up when i have something plugged in??

Question

Age of home is approx. 20 yrs if this helps. More than likely no knob and tube.

Answer 1

the current draw from that applliance may be exceeding the amps for that circuit, or there is a loose wire.

Most space heaters will do this.

Answer 2

If your house is less than 50 years old you don't have knob and tube weiring. Electrical resistance causes heat if a appliance that draws a lot of electricity like a heater might cause the outlet to heat up slightly but a lamp or TV should not if all your outlets get warm you might have aluminum wiring which was used for a short time. because it is soft after it in for a while it gets loose and causes the same problem you are describing. it should be checked out by a qualified electrician.

Answer 3

The receptacle is not making a good tight contact with the plug or there could be a loose connection where the house wiring fastens onto the receptacle. Since receptacles are not that expensive it would be a good idea to replace them. Some receptacles came with the option of being able to just push the stripped wire into a hole in the receptacle and in time these connections get loose. If the new receptacle has this feature do not use it but fasten the wires under the screws provided with the wires wrapped in a clockwise direction around the screw.

Also look at the prongs of the plugs. Many plugs have prongs that are doubled over and there is supposed to be a slight gap between the two. You can spread them open slightly with a small screwdriver or small knife blade so they make a better connection in the receptacle.

Answer 4

That's not good. They are heating up because they cannot handle the current coming through. They are most likely cheap-o's which the contractor used to cut corners. You should replace them with a mid-priced outlet. It is very easy to do, and not very expensive.
1) Buy new outlets.
2) TURN OFF POWER, don't mess around, just kill all the power to the house by flipping the main circuit breaker, usually above or below the rest of them in the fuse box.
3) Test the outlets before you work on them by plugging in an appliance like a blender, something that you know works.
4) Unscrew faceplate.
5) Undo wires one at a time and reconnect each to the same spot on the new outlets.

If that doesn't fix it, it's time to call the electrician.

Answer 5

The outlets rely on spring tabs to keep the plug tight.When the tabs get weak they arch causing heat build up. When it heats up removed the plug. If the prongs are extremly hot, replace the outlets.

Answer 6

Listen to Pat B who responded earlier. Call a qualified electrician and have this taken care of immediately. Heat = fire Fire = burned down house. Just hope noone is inside when it starts. Something like 83% of residential fires is directly accountable to faulty electrical systems and or components. Pat B is also right about aluminum wiring.

Answer 7

Knob and tube? Wow- wonder how many people even know what that is. Dates to early 1900s and hasn't been legal since about 1960. (Still have the remnants in my 1865 basement- disconnected of course)
Electric outlet heats up=something is wrong with wiring.
Something wrong with wiring=house fire potential drastically increased.
Solution=LICENSED electrician (the unlicensed kind tend to cause more fires).
That was an easy one- I didn't even have to be an electrician to figure it out.
Got any more questions?:)

Answer 8

they heat up when there isnt a very good connection. you ought to get it checked out before something bad happens, or it gets worse

Answer 9

they need to be replaced badly ehn they heat up they may casea a fire, pwer outage in ur home. And to prvent this till u get tem replaces dont use them so much

Answer 10

Electricity is flowing through the wires! Electricity = heat! If electricity is made by electrons is morality made by morons?

Willy