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

If your bathroom socket smells burnt when you plug in a hairdryer, this is a serious warning sign and you should stop using it straight away. Here is what is likely happening and what you should do.

Most bathroom sockets are not ordinary plug sockets. They are shaver supply units, which are specially designed isolated transformers that provide a safe low-current outlet. These units are only rated to handle small loads like electric shavers and electric toothbrush chargers, typically around 20 watts. A hairdryer draws anywhere from 1200 watts to 2400 watts, which is far beyond what the unit can handle. Forcing that much current through an undersized socket causes the internal components to overheat, which is what produces that burning smell.

Even if your bathroom has a full-size socket, a burnt smell still means something is wrong. It could be a loose wire inside the socket, a failing connection at the back of the unit, a fault inside the plug on the hairdryer, or damage to the socket from previous overloading.

What you should do right now:

1. Stop using the socket immediately.

2. Unplug the hairdryer if it is safe to do so without touching anything that looks discoloured or damaged.

3. Switch off the circuit at your consumer unit fuse box.

4. Do not use that socket again until it has been inspected.

Do not try to open the socket yourself. Bathroom sockets are wired differently to standard sockets and contain isolation tra

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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.