A socket has stopped working — what should you do?

The short answer

A socket that has stopped working usually comes down to one of four things: the appliance you plugged in is faulty, the fuse for that circuit has tripped, the RCD has switched off — or the socket itself has a fault, often a loose connection. The first three you can check yourself in a few minutes. The fourth is a job for a certified electrician, and sometimes an urgent one.

Below we go through the checks in order, the warning signs that mean you should call straight away, and why the repair — when one is needed — must be done by an authorised electrical company rather than on your own.

Troubleshoot in four steps

Work through the steps in order and you will close in on the fault without guessing:

• Test the appliance in another socket — if it works there, the fault is probably in the first socket, not the appliance
• Test other sockets in the same room and adjacent rooms — if several are dead, the whole circuit has probably tripped
• Check the consumer unit — look for a dropped circuit breaker or a blown fuse indicator, and reset or replace
• Check the RCD — if it has tripped, unplug the appliances on that circuit and reset it

If the fuse or the RCD trips again immediately after resetting, do not keep pressing. There is a persistent fault that needs professional troubleshooting — leave the circuit switched off and call.

One tip: label the circuits in your consumer unit if it has not been done. When you know which fuse belongs to which room, the whole check takes a couple of minutes instead of a quarter of an hour.

Warning signs you should never ignore

A socket that stops working is sometimes the final stage of a longer process: a connection inside the socket has worked loose, started generating heat and eventually burnt through. Loose connections are treacherous because the heat builds up hidden behind the faceplate — and in the worst case they can lead to fire.

• The socket or the plug feels warm
• Discolouration, soot or melt marks around the holes
• Crackling, clicking or buzzing sounds
• A smell of burning or hot plastic
• The plug sits loosely or wobbles when you touch it

If you recognise any of these: stop using the socket, unplug connected appliances if it can be done without risk, and switch off the fuse for that circuit. Never touch exposed wiring. With smoke, open flame or a clear burning smell, call 112 first — then the electrician.

The same warning signs apply to switches, junction boxes and the consumer unit. Heat, discolouration and noise never belong in a healthy electrical installation.

Unearthed and earthed sockets in older homes

In older homes it is common for some rooms to still have unearthed sockets, while kitchens, bathrooms and renovated areas have earthed ones. The two systems must not be mixed casually — the basic principle is that all sockets in one room should be of the same type, and an earthed plug should never be forced into an unearthed socket with an adapter or brute force.

If an unearthed socket stops working, it is often wise to upgrade rather than repair: the electrician can convert the room or the circuit to earthed wiring, which improves safety and makes the home ready for modern equipment. If you are unsure what applies in your house, a basic review of the installation gives you answers and a sensible order of priority.

Why you may not repair the socket yourself

Sockets are part of the home's fixed electrical installation, and there the rules are clear: as a general rule, installation work may only be carried out by an electrical installation company registered with Elsäkerhetsverket, the Swedish Electrical Safety Board. As a private individual you may only do a few simple things yourself — such as changing a light bulb, replacing a blown fuse or fitting a new plug on a loose cord — and only where it can be done safely and with the power off.

Troubleshooting and repairs inside a socket are not on that list. This is not about dexterity but about safety: a badly repaired socket can look completely normal and still give shocks or build up heat — and an undocumented intervention can also cause problems with your insurance the day something happens.

If you are unsure where the line runs, Elsäkerhetsverket's website is the right source. The rule of thumb is simple: anything that requires a screwdriver in the fixed installation is the electrician's job.

What a proper repair involves

A certified electrician works with the power off and checks more than the socket itself: the condition of the wiring, that the connections are correctly made and tightened, that the earthing works, and that the circuit's fuse is correctly rated. Often the socket is replaced entirely — the component is cheap compared with the labour — and everything is measured and function-tested before the power goes back on.

If a loose connection is found in one socket, it is sensible to have more sockets on the same circuit checked. The loose joint may stem from an installation method repeated in several places around the home, and you want to find the other weak points before they become problems.

Preventing the next socket problem

• Do not load a single socket with many appliances through power strips
• Pull the plug, never the cord, when unplugging something
• Replace plugs and cords that wobble, are cracked or feel warm
• Have an electrician look at sockets that are old, loose in the wall or unearthed
• Test the RCD with its test button a couple of times a year

El Jour 24 helps you across Stockholm from our base in Jakobsberg. For acute electrical faults we are normally on site within 2 hours — around the clock, every day of the year. We are certified and carry liability insurance, and repairs in your home can qualify for the ROT deduction of 30 % of the labour cost for private individuals; current conditions are available from Skatteverket. Call 073-173 87 37 — we answer even in the middle of the night and makes sure an electrician gets back to you quickly.