Electric socket sparking

DavidF

I am surprised that there are no emergency electricians in your area as British Gas is UK wide and their "Hero's" include electricians and plumbers as well as gas engineers. With that said - Have you had your house electrics fully checked as in a full EICR ? If not then do so. Go on safety first website
Here is the local hero's webpage too

TheCyclingProgrammer

Why are people talking about “emergency” electricians? This is not an emergency. OP can simply avoid using the socket and the fan heater until they’ve been able to resolve the cause of the problem. Just call a normal electrician.

I agree the probably a loose connection or a faulty heater. The simplest way to test would be try something else in the socket (a lamp maybe) and try the heater in another socket. If it were me I’d just turn the power off, unscrew the plug socket and check all the connections are tight.

EachPenny

TheCyclingProgrammer wrote: »

Why are people talking about “emergency” electricians? This is not an emergency. OP can simply avoid using the socket and the fan heater until they’ve been able to resolve the cause of the problem. Just call a normal electrician.

I agree the probably a loose connection or a faulty heater. The simplest way to test would be try something else in the socket (a lamp maybe) and try the heater in another socket. If it were me I’d just turn the power off, unscrew the plug socket and check all the connections are tight.

I agree. If it isn't loose connections between the wiring and the socket it is possibly poor contacts between the socket and the plug or in the switch. The fan heater is a big load which will put a strain on the weakest link.

Just don't use the socket until you are able to get it professionally checked.

In the meantime, make sure you know which trip/fuse on the consumer unit controls this circuit and that anything you need to do to access the consumer unit in a hurry is already done (e.g. if you need a ladder to reach it or a torch to see what you are doing )

If there were sparks coming out of the heater itself that would be a different matter :eek:

moneyistooshorttomention

fezster wrote: »

Was your consumer unit replaced as part of the work? Is it an RCD protected unit?

I'd have expected it to trip if there are sparks. The sparking is probably down to a loose connection in the socket.

Yes - the ancient fusebox got replaced by a modern consumer unit. I don't know if it's RCD protected - I presume it has to be and therefore is?

I wondered if it might have tripped - but all looked as normal there.

GDB2222

Just get the socket replaced, then take it from there. Ideally, as this is in the kitchen, it would be best to get this done by a qualified electrician.

The connector for the plug inside the socket may be loose. It doesn't have to be the wiring. Either way, replacing the socket will fix the issue.

Have a look at the plug from the fire. Are there any scorch marks on it?

moneyistooshorttomention

Just checked out the "local hero" website and had a response re someone coming on a date I've given - but no indication given of who it is or contact details for them.

I checked out the other link re electricians here locally and think I'm best off ringing one from that list (so I know who I'm getting). Then I had better figure out how to cancel a totally unknown "local hero" - in case it's the mate of "first electrician that did the house back when".

EDIT; Just had a phonecall from the "local hero" guy - and it wasnt the one who did the electrics here in the first place. So position is that I'd, in the meantime, rang another electrician (NOT the one who did the job in the first place!) and he's going to come and have a look. When the "local hero" one rang up he's thinking along lines of a complete check of the house I am thinking of. So - darn it - I've got another bill coming up out of the blue that I hadnt expected/shouldnt have! But I am going to have in an electrician - and I am rather thinking of having the house completely checked out.

Thanks all.

vw100

I too have noticed a flash/spark if a fan heater or convector heater is removed from the plug without switching the device off from the control first. I think has these heaters draw alot of electricity and that's why this small flash of electricity appears . I have seen this happen at another house as well. The wall sockets in current house are new and from a reputable brand. Try powering of the device first and see if you get the same issue.

moneyistooshorttomention

vw100 wrote: »

I too have noticed a flash/spark if a fan heater or convector heater is removed from the plug without switching the device off from the control first. I think has these heaters draw alot of electricity and that's why this small flash of electricity appears . I have seen this happen at another house as well. The wall sockets in current house are new and from a reputable brand. Try powering of the device first and see if you get the same issue.

Actually - the incident happened when I was elsewhere in the kitchen making my breakfast. I was away from the fire and not touching the fire and it made a "bang" sort of noise and I headed for it to have a look and spotted sparks flying. Switched it off at the socket pronto and put the fire elsewhere.

ariba10

Probably a fault with the heater and it blew the fuse in the plug!

moneyistooshorttomention

Well I guess I'll get the definitive verdict next week when the electrician pops in. I'm trying not to think about having another unexpected bill to pay and unexpected hassle on work on the house.

The spending started already (about £12 down the drain already) - I've just ordered a smoke alarm from Amazon - so will be getting the electrician to put it up for me.

Not best pleased - as I'm that safety-conscious that I don't even use candles in my house (much as I like them) just in case...