There are few things more alarming in a home than catching a whiff of acrid, burning plastic. Unlike the smell of burnt toast, an electrical burning smell signals an immediate fire hazard hidden inside your walls.

If you are reading this because you currently smell burning, stop reading the introduction and skip immediately to the "Immediate Safety Steps" section below.

For South African homeowners, electrical faults are a leading cause of house fires. Whether it is caused by old wiring in heritage homes in suburbs like Melville or Observatory, or the strain placed on systems by post-load shedding surges, knowing exactly how to react can save your property and your life.

This guide details the immediate steps you must take, the likely causes of the smell, and what to expect when you call in a professional.

Immediate Safety Steps: Do This Now

If you detect a fishy, plastic, or sulfur-like smell coming from a socket, time is not on your side. Here is the strict safety protocol recommended by qualified electricians.

1. Locate the Source (Safely) Walk into the room and identify which outlet is emitting the smell. You might also hear a buzzing or crackling sound, or the faceplate might feel warm to the touch. Do not touch the socket face directly if it looks melted.

2. Cut the Power at the DB Board Go to your Distribution Board (DB). You do not need to switch off the entire house unless you cannot identify the specific circuit.

• Locate the switch labeled "Plugs" or "Sockets" for that specific room.
• Flip that switch to the OFF position.
• Expert Tip: If you are unsure which switch controls the faulty plug, flip the Main Switch. It is better to be in the dark than to risk a fire.

3. Unplug Connected Devices Once the power is off, carefully unplug whatever appliance was connected to that outlet. Check the plug pins on the appliance cord. Are they blackened or melted? If so, do not use that appliance again until it has been inspected.

4. Do Not Restore Power Leave the circuit breaker off. Even if the smell dissipates, the wiring damage inside the wall remains. Turning the power back on could reignite the melting insulation.

Diagnosing the Smell: What is Actually Burning?

We spoke to Yusuf, a master electrician with over 15 years of experience in Cape Town, to understand what creates that distinct odour.

"The smell homeowners describe is usually the insulation around the copper wires melting," says Yusuf. "In South Africa, we use PVC insulation. When a connection is loose, electricity has to jump the gap (arcing) or force its way through a small contact point (resistance). This generates intense heat, cooking the plastic insulation. It smells a bit like urine or fish."

Common Culprits in South African Homes:

• Loose Connections: This is the number one cause. Over time, the screws holding the wires into the back of the socket can loosen due to thermal expansion and contraction (heating up and cooling down).
• Overloading: Plugging high-draw appliances (like heaters, kettles, or tumble dryers) into a single multi-plug adapter or extension cord can exceed the wall socket's amp rating, causing it to overheat.
• Old Wiring: Homes built before the 1980s may have insulation that has become brittle and cracked, exposing the live wires.
• Post-Load Shedding Surges: The rush of current when power returns can blow weak points in your electrical system. This is becoming an increasingly common cause of socket failure in Gauteng and KZN.

Why DIY is Not an Option

You might be tempted to pop the faceplate off and tighten the screw yourself. Please consider the regulations and risks before you pick up a screwdriver.

The Legal Reality (SANS 10142-1) In South Africa, the South African National Standards (SANS 10142-1) govern electrical installations.

• Work on the fixed installation (anything behind the wall, including the socket outlet itself) must be done by a registered person (Installation Electrician).
• If you perform DIY electrical work, you are legally liable for any damage or injury that occurs.
• Insurance Implications: If a fire starts because of a DIY repair on a socket, your insurance provider will almost certainly reject the claim if you cannot produce a valid Electrical Compliance Certificate (COC) or invoice from a certified professional for the repair.

Read our guide on the cost of an electrical compliance certificate on SOuth Africa.

Safety Risk A burning outlet implies heat damage to the wiring insulation inside the wall. Simply replacing the white plastic cover does not fix the burnt wire further back in the conduit. A professional needs to strip the wire back to healthy copper or replace the run entirely.

What to Expect When the Pro Arrives

When you book a vetted electrician to investigate a burning smell, the process is usually straightforward but thorough.

1. Fault Finding The electrician will use a multimeter and insulation resistance tester to check the circuit. They will determine if the fault is limited to the socket or if the wiring in the wall has degraded.

2. The Repair

• Best Case: The wire ends are trimmed, re-stripped to expose fresh copper, and a new SABS-approved socket outlet (like CBI or Legrand) is installed.
• Worst Case: The heat has damaged the insulation deep into the wall conduit. The electrician will need to draw new wires from the nearest junction box or the DB board.

3. Testing Once fixed, they will perform an earth loop impedance test to ensure the safety mechanisms (like your earth leakage) will trip correctly if a fault occurs in the future.

Real Cost Ranges: What Will You Pay?

Pricing can vary based on your location (Cape Town and Sandton rates tend to be slightly higher than other areas) and the time of day. Based on data from verified jobs in 2024, here is what you can expect:

• Call-out Fee (includes first hour of labor): R550 – R950.
• Fault Finding (if complex): R600 – R900 per additional hour.
• Standard Socket Replacement: R150 – R350 per point (excluding labor).
• Rewiring a Circuit: R1,500+ depending on the length of the run and accessibility.

Note: Emergency after-hours call-outs usually attract a surcharge of 1.5x the standard rate.

For a deeper dive into pricing, check our Electrician Cost Guide.

Catching it Early

Sarah, a homeowner in Durban North, noticed a faint buzzing sound near her bedroom plug whenever she used her hair straightener. She ignored it for a week until a distinct fishy smell appeared.

"I thought it was just the humidity affecting the plugs," Sarah recalls. "I called a pro from Kandua just to be safe. When he opened the socket, the live wire was completely black and the plastic casing was soft. He told me that if I had left it another few days, it likely would have sparked a fire inside the drywall."

Sarah’s repair cost R850 including the new part and labor—a tiny fraction of what fire damage repairs would have cost.

Maintenance Checklist to Prevent Fires

• Feel the heat: Occasionally touch your plug points while appliances are running. They should never be hot.
• Listen: If you hear crackling or buzzing, turn it off immediately.
• Check your plugs: If the pins on your appliance plugs are black or pitted, replace the plug top. A damaged plug top damages the wall socket.
• Don't Daisy Chain: Avoid plugging an adapter into another adapter.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my outlet smell like fish? The "fishy" smell is actually the distinct odour of chemicals (amines) released when the plastic and Bakelite components of electrical sockets and insulation are exposed to high heat. It is a universal warning sign of overheating electrical components.

Can I stop using the outlet and ignore it? No. Even if nothing is plugged in, the outlet is still "live" as part of the circuit loop. The loose connection inside the box can still arc and heat up if power flows through it to get to other plugs in the room. You must isolate the circuit at the DB board until it is fixed.

Will I need a new Electrical Compliance Certificate (COC) after the repair? You generally do not need a brand new COC for the entire house if you are doing a maintenance repair. However, the electrician should issue a minor works certificate or an invoice stating that the work complies with SANS 10142-1. If they have to rewire a significant portion of the circuit, an addendum to your COC may be required.

How long does it take to fix a burnt outlet? If the damage is contained to the socket face and the immediate wire ends, a qualified electrician can typically resolve the issue in under an hour. If the wiring inside the wall is damaged, it may take 2 to 4 hours to draw new wires.

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