Why are my outlets hot?
Outlets can be hot for a couple of different reasons. 1) overloaded circuit 2) faulty wiring or connections 3) worn out device or wires. Hot outlets are not something to play around with, if you notice your outlets getting hot you will need to address this issue immediately as it could result in an electrical fire or damage to your home.
Outlets are designed to operate at a particular amperage, typically they are rated for 15 amps or 20 amps. If the outlet is rated for 15 amps then the internal components of that outlet are only designed for a maximum of 15 amps at any time. If you have a 15 amp outlet and start plugging your electrical devices into it as the amperage draw goes up the outlet will start to get warmer. If this outlet is tied to a 20 amp breaker there is a good chance the outlet will be overloaded before the breaker will trip.
OVERLOADED CIRCUIT
This is a one of the more common causes for a hot outlet. As we talked about above when you have an outlet that is designed for a lower voltage than your breaker there is a good chance you could be drawing more of an electrical load than the outlet is rated for. The more amps you draw the more the internal components of the outlet start to heat up. If you keep adding more amps to the outlet or if you have it run over or at his maximum rating for an extended period of time there is almost a certainty that you will cause damage to the outlet. Over time if the outlet keeps heating up and then cooling off when you are done with it the internal components of the outlet will start to weaken and eventually break. This will cause the outlet to no longer work or possibly malfunction and create a higher risk for sparking and electrical fires. If you notice your outlet feelings warm, take note of the condition of the outlet first but also see what kind of breaker is feeding the outlet as well as what you are plugging into it. You can usually find the amperage draw of any electrical device on a small sticker or in the manual, things like toasters/heaters microwaves etc tend to draw larger loads than a simple phone charger or computer. If your outlet gets warm without anything plugged into it then you are most likely not dealing with an overloaded circuit.
FAULTY WIRING/CONNECTIONS
If there is nothing plugged into your outlet and you notice it getting warm then there is a good chance this is due to faulty wiring or loose connections. When the wiring to an outlet is faulty or the connections are loose this causes the outlet to heat up. If there is a loose connection the wires can possibly start to spark inside of the electrical box. As you know the more the wires spark inside the box the more the outlet will wear down and create heat. Small sparks in an electrical box may not sound like a super huge deal, but anytime there are unwanted sparks there is always an increase in your chances for an electrical fire. If there is no sparking going on there then it could be a case of faulty wiring. The outlet is designed to have the “hot” wire tied on to a certain screw and the neutral wire tied on to another one, the ground is always connected to the green screw but not all houses pull grounds to their outlets. If the person who installed the outlet accidentally put the screws on the wrong sides of the outlet this could be the cause for an outlet heating up. If this is the case you will need to fix this immediately and do not plug anything into the outlet as it could seriously damage of break any electrical device you plug in.
WARN OUT DEVICES
The last reason that your outlet could be getting hot is just old and worn out devices or wiring. If you have an older home the wiring that was used when the home was built could be old and falling apart. If you notice that the wiring in your home is starting to fall apart this would be a major cause for concern. Just like anything over time wiring and devices start to wear, with the expanding and contracting of the metal inside the device as well as the wiring due to low levels of heat, change in temperatures, or even possibly water. If you notice that your outlets look super old or outdated there is a good chance that the outlet has just run its course and it is time to swap it out. If you are considering swapping the outlet out yourself you should always shut down the power to it and test to make sure there is no power going to it. If you do not know how to change it out your best and safest bet is to always call a qualified electrician.
In conclusion, hot outlets are always a sign of an electrical issue and if not handled right away it could be dangerous for you and your home. Electrical fires are not something to play around with and even something as simple as a warm outlet can be a major cause for concern if it is not taken care of as soon as possible. It is always in your best interest to have a qualified electrician look over and diagnose your problem. I hope this article helped give you a better understanding into your electrical system.