Electrical outlets don’t last forever!
Electrical Tip of the Day: Many homes have receptacles which are damaged, have internal parts that are worn, or have deteriorated over the years (some older outlets were made from a product called Bakelite – a precursor to modern plastics that did not tend to hold up well). Outlets also deteriorate from repeated use, from plugging-in and unplugging. As a result, when plugs fit loosely into receptacles, especially the two-prong ungrounded type, they may slip partially or completely out of the receptacle with only slight movement of the attached cord. Receptacles in this condition may overheat and pose a serious fire hazard. In addition to a device being worn, loose or improperly mounted receptacles and switches can pose just as much danger. It does not take much movement for a loose device to cause a short circuit situation inside a junction box.
We recommend that homeowners have a qualified electrical contractor replace all deteriorated and damaged receptacles. In older homes (typically any dwelling over 20 years old) we highly recommend what we call a “full device and switch” – were we come in , replace all the devices in the home, re-wire all the device junction boxes, and check each location for deteriorated wiring / signs of over-heating.
