Why does my bathroom socket smell burnt when I use a hairdryer – Advice from Electriman, North London Electricians

If your bathroom socket smells burnt when you plug in a hairdryer, the first thing to understand is that most bathroom sockets in UK homes are shaver sockets, not standard 13A sockets. A shaver socket is only rated for low-power devices like electric razors and some beard trimmers, typically up to around 20 watts. A hairdryer can draw anywhere from 1,200 to 2,400 watts, which is far beyond what a shaver socket is designed to handle. Plugging a hairdryer into one is essentially like asking a small pipe to carry a river.

The burning smell is telling you that something inside the socket is overheating. This could be because the socket itself is being overloaded and its internal components are burning out. It could also mean there is already a loose connection inside the unit, and the extra current from the hairdryer is making a bad situation much worse. In older homes, it can also point to wiring that has degraded over time and can no longer safely carry the load.

What you should do right now:

1. Stop using the socket immediately.

2. Switch off the bathroom circuit at your consumer unit if you know which breaker it is.

3. Do not attempt to open the socket yourself. Bathroom wiring can involve special earthing and isolation requirements.

4. Check whether the socket has a UK shaver socket face with two small round pin holes. If it does, it was never meant for a hairdryer at all.

5. Look around the socket for any discolouration o

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Electriman covers Mill Hill, Barnet, Finchley, Edgware, Enfield, Watford and surrounding areas. All work is Part P certified and fully insured.