What should I do if a plug has melted?

Switch the circuit off at the consumer unit, leave the plug to cool, then remove it with the power still off. Do not use that socket or appliance again until an electrician has replaced the socket and checked the wiring behind it. If there is smoke or flame, leave the property and call 999.

Why did my plug melt but the fuse did not blow?

A fuse blows on too much current. Most melted plugs are caused by a loose or worn connection, which gets hot at normal current, so the fuse has no reason to blow. That is why a melted plug is never proof that the protection worked.

Can I just change the plug and keep using the socket?

Not if the plug melted in a wall socket. The heat has usually damaged the socket's contacts, so a new plug in the same socket can overheat again. Replace the socket and have the cable behind it checked.

Is a melted plug a fire risk?

Yes. The plastic has reached a temperature that can ignite nearby materials, and the connection that caused it is still faulty. Keep the circuit off until it has been repaired.

Which appliances most often melt plugs?

Appliances that draw a high current for a long time: fan and oil heaters, tumble dryers, washing machines, kettles and irons. Plugging these into extension leads or adaptors adds another set of connections that can overheat. Electrical Safety First advises against overloading sockets and leads.

Should I report a melted plug?

If the appliance or plug is new or the fault looks like a product defect, contact the retailer or manufacturer and check whether it has been recalled. Keep the damaged plug as evidence.

Melted Plug: What To Do

A melted plug means the plug or socket overheated at a poor connection. Switch that circuit off at the consumer unit, do not pull out a hot plug, and have an electrician check the socket before anyone uses it again. If there is smoke or flame, get out and call 999.

Emergency

Blake FolgadoCo-founder, Tradehand

Published 1 February 2026Updated 22 September 2026

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What's happening?

A plug melts when heat builds up where metal meets metal: a loose terminal screw inside the plug, a fuse sitting badly in its clips, or socket contacts that no longer grip the pins. A loose connection gets hot at normal current, so the fuse often does not blow; the plastic softens instead. UK plugs should be made to BS 1363 and carry a BS 1362 fuse (3A or 13A for most appliances, according to Electrical Safety First), and a counterfeit plug can fail far sooner. Look at both halves. If only the plug is distorted, the plug or the appliance lead is the likely source. If the socket faceplate is also brown, warped or scorched, its contacts have been cooked too and it has to be replaced. High loads left running for hours (heaters, tumble dryers, washing machines), especially through an extension lead, are the usual trigger.

What usually causes it?

A loose terminal screw or partly broken wire inside a rewireable plug
Worn or weakened socket contacts that no longer grip the plug pins firmly
A fuse that is loose in its clips, or the wrong rating for the appliance
A heater, tumble dryer or washing machine run for hours through an extension lead or adaptor
A counterfeit or non-compliant plug not made to BS 1363
Damaged appliance flex where it enters the plug, with broken strands heating up

Is it dangerous?

Yes. Plastic only melts after sustained overheating, and the same heat can ignite the socket, the back box or anything touching it. Because a loose connection overheats without drawing extra current, the fuse and the circuit breaker may never trip to warn you. If the plug is still hot, the socket is scorched, or you can smell burning after switching off, treat it as a live fire risk: keep everyone clear and call 999 if there is any smoke or flame.

Can I fix it myself?

Only make it safe. 1. Switch the circuit off at the consumer unit (fuse box), or the main switch if you are not sure which circuit it is. 2. Do not pull a hot or fused plug out of the socket; leave it to cool with the power off. 3. Once cool and still switched off, remove the plug and do not use that socket or that appliance again until both are checked. 4. Look at other plugs on the same extension lead or circuit for brown marks or warping. 5. Check the appliance against the Electrical Safety First product recall list. Fitting a new plug to the appliance does not fix the socket: its contacts have been heat-damaged and need replacing by an electrician.

When should you call an electrician?

Book an electrician the same day if a plug has melted in a wall socket. The socket needs replacing and the wiring and back box behind it need checking for heat damage. Treat it as urgent if the faceplate is scorched, the circuit trips when you switch back on, other sockets on the circuit are discoloured, or the smell of burning continues. Call 999 first if there is smoke or flame.

What will the electrician actually do?

Isolate the circuit and remove the melted plug and socket safely
Inspect the back box, cable ends and insulation behind the socket for heat damage, cutting back to sound cable
Fit a new socket and tighten terminations correctly
Test the circuit (continuity, insulation resistance and polarity) to confirm nothing else overheated
Check the appliance lead and plug, fit a BS 1363 plug with the correct BS 1362 fuse if the appliance is otherwise sound
Advise on high-load appliances and extension lead use on that circuit