Is It Dangerous if a Circuit Feels Warm to the Touch?
Electrical home fires are common in the U.S. That’s the takeaway from several very credible studies, including one published by the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI). It revealed that home electrical fires account for an estimated 51,000 fires, 1,400 injuries, 500 deaths, and some $1.3 billion in property damage every year.
Circuit issues are to blame for many of these fires. A separate U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) study revealed that electrical receptacles are involved in 5,300 fires annually. One of the most telling signs of electrical problems that can lead to a fire is unusually warm or hot circuits.
What Parts of a Home’s Electrical System Are Most Likely To Become Warm or Hot to the Touch?
Many parts of a home’s electrical system can become extremely warm to the touch or downright hot. Some of the most common include circuit breakers, electrical outlets or receptacles, wiring, light fixtures, and transformers.
Each of these electrical components can generate heat due to the heating effects of electric current passing through resistive elements. That is especially true of tablet, laptop, and smartphone chargers.
When plugged into outlets, the chargers for these devices actively convert alternating current (AC) into direct current (DC) to recharge depleted batteries. And in the process, the outlets become warm.
Unlike warm outlets, extremely hot electrical outlets in a home often point to a serious electrical problem. The same applies to extremely warm circuit breaker panels and other electrical system components.
How Hot Is Too Hot When It Comes to a Home’s Electrical Components?
Temperatures within 5 to 20 degrees Fahrenheit of a room’s ambient temperature are within the normal to slightly warm range for most residential electrical outlets. Temperatures of 20 degrees Fahrenheit or more are considered extremely warm to hot. For reference, the average ambient room temperature is 68 to 77 degrees Fahrenheit.
Circuit breaker panels, meanwhile, can be a bit warmer than the ambient temperature. Circuit breaker panel temperatures that are 5 to 20 degrees Fahrenheit above ambient temperature are considered normal. Between 20 and 50 degrees Fahrenheit is slightly warm to very hot.
Temperatures that are 50 degrees Fahrenheit or more above ambient room temperature are extremely hot and indicative of a serious electrical or circuit problem. Some of the most common causes of exceedingly warm or hot electrical outlets, circuit breaker panels, and other electrical components in a home include the following:
- Damaged appliances or devices
- Damaged or worn-out electrical outlets
- Improperly wired electrical systems
- Incorrectly used power strips and extension cords
- Loose connections in wiring, switches, or breakers
- Outdated electrical systems
- Overloaded circuits
- Short circuits
Is It Dangerous if a Circuit Feels Warm to the Touch?
Warm electrical circuits are generally safe as they tend to warm up slightly when under load. However, extremely hot circuits are another matter. Extreme heat emanating from electrical receptacles or circuit breaker panels is often associated with circuit problems.
In addition to fire, circuit problems can increase the risk of electrical shock. Therefore, it is best to avoid touching them. While we are on the topic, it is worth noting that the same circuit problems can also cause irreversible damage to appliances, electronics, and wiring.
Common Signs of Electrical Circuit Problems and Overheating
Along with exceedingly warm or downright hot electrical circuits, other signs of circuit problems and overheating that can sometimes lead to fire, increase the risk of electrical shock, and potentially cause irreversible damage to appliances, electronics, and wiring, include the following:
- Burning smells
- Dimming lights
- Discolored outlets and switches
- Frequent tripping of circuit breakers
- Lights flickering
- Sudden power fluctuations
- Unusually loud humming or buzzing sounds
What To Do if You Notice an Extremely Warm or Hot Circuit
If you notice an extremely warm or hot circuit, there are a few steps you should take to reduce the risk of fire, electrical shock, and, most importantly, keep everyone in the home safe.
The first is to immediately unplug the electronic device or appliance connected to the outlet. After that, you want to shut off the power to that circuit using the breaker located inside the electrical panel. From there, you should contact a licensed electrician who can identify the root cause of your electrical problems and resolve them.
How Electricians Resolve Circuit Problems and Overheating
Sometimes, resolving electrical issues is as simple as tightening loose connections, replacing worn wiring, or replacing faulty receptacles or outlets. At other times, the fix is significantly more complex.
One of the first things most electricians will do to identify and resolve electrical problems in a home involves performing a load check. This process involves calculating the total wattage of all electronics, appliances, and fixtures to determine the cumulative electrical load in a home.
Electrical load checks help electricians pinpoint drops in voltage, irregular performance, and other issues that can cause an electrical system to fail in meeting its rated capacity. After figuring out the cause of circuit problems and overheating in a home, the electrician will make the necessary circuit repairs.
Sometimes, these repairs are as simple as tightening loose connections, replacing worn wiring, or replacing receptacles or outlets. At other times, the fix is significantly more complex and may call for the following:
- Circuit replacement – This particular type of circuit repair entails removing and replacing faulty or outdated electrical components, such as capacitors, inductors, and resistors. Electricians might recommend circuit replacement when a circuit board or another critical component of a home’s electrical system has failed beyond repair.
- New circuit installations – This repair involves an electrician adding one or more new circuits to a home’s electrical panel to improve power distribution. Electricians often recommend a new circuit installation when powering multiple devices on an existing circuit causes an overload. In other words, the current drawn by the existing circuit exceeds its rating.
Hire a Professional and Licensed Tampa Electrician Today
Electrical home fires are a significant issue in the U.S., often caused by overloaded circuits, outdated or damaged wiring, or faulty receptacles or outlets. If a circuit feels warm, it is best to unplug devices, turn off breakers, and contact a licensed electrician immediately. To learn more, consider speaking with a Tampa Mister Sparky associate today.