What to Do if You Have Water in an Electrical Outlet
As you know, water and electricity are a dangerous combination. They really don’t get along. If you’ve recently had a leak, flood, or any kind of water damage in your home, water in electrical outlets can be a serious concern.
You don’t have to figure out this situation on your own. This guide will walk you through exactly what to do if you find water in or around your outlets.
Key Takeaways
- Even a small amount of water in an electrical outlet can create the risk of a serious shock or fire in your home.
- Never touch a wet outlet. If you find water coming from an outlet or notice moisture around one, keep your distance and turn off power to that area at the breaker box.
- Water can cause lasting damage to your electrical system. It may lead to corrosion, short circuits, and mold.
- Hire a licensed electrician to inspect any outlet that’s been exposed to water.
- Water damage can go beyond the outlet. If the water has reached your electrical system, it can affect other areas of your home as well.
How Does Water Get in an Outlet?
Water can get in an electrical outlet in more ways than you might expect. Flooding, plumbing problems, and everyday appliances can send water where it definitely doesn’t belong.
Some of the most common ways water ends up in an outlet:
- Flooding: Heavy rain or storm surges can push water through your floors and walls, reaching outlets near the base of your home.
- Plumbing leaks: A burst pipe or slow leak inside a wall can seep into your electrical system over time.
- Roof leaks: Water traveling from a damaged roof can drip into walls and reach outlets on any floor.
- Condensation: High humidity levels can cause moisture to build up inside and around your outlets.
- Appliance leaks: Dishwashers, washing machines, and refrigerators can leak and send water toward nearby outlets.
What Can Water Do to an Electrical Outlet?
Water in an electrical outlet can create a chain of problems that put your home and family at risk. Here’s what can happen when water and electricity mix:
- Short circuits: Water conducts electricity, which means it can cause wires to connect in ways they shouldn’t. This can trip your breaker or damage your electrical system.
- Overheated wires: Moisture inside an outlet can cause wires to overheat, increasing the risk of an electrical fire.
- Corrosion: Water can rust and corrode the metal components inside an outlet over time, making it unreliable and unsafe.
- Electrical fires: A damaged outlet left unchecked can spark and ignite surrounding materials, including the framing inside your walls.
- Mold growth: If water gets into a wall near an outlet, moisture can linger behind it and create the perfect conditions for mold to grow.
Any one of these problems is serious on its own. Together, they make a strong case for acting fast when you spot water damage in a wall near an outlet.
How to Handle Water in Your Electrical Outlet
Finding water in an electrical outlet can be alarming. Stay calm and take these steps to protect your home and your safety:
- Step away and don’t touch the outlet. Keep your distance from any outlet you suspect has water in or around it. Never touch a wet outlet.
- Shut off the power. Go to your breaker box and turn off the power to the affected area. If you’re unsure which breaker controls that area, turn off the main breaker to be safe.
- Dry the surrounding area. Once the power is off, dry any standing water or moisture near the outlet with towels. Don’t attempt to dry inside the outlet yourself.
- Call a licensed electrician. This is the most important step. A licensed electrician can safely inspect your outlet, test the wiring, and determine whether they can repair the outlet or if you need a full replacement. Don’t restore power to the area until the electrician has given you the all-clear.
When to Do a Full Outlet Replacement
When it comes to water and your outlets, some situations call for more than a quick fix. If you see water coming out of an outlet, notice a burning smell, or know that your outlet got submerged during a flood, a full replacement is usually the safest choice. Trying to dry out and reuse a severely damaged outlet puts your home at unnecessary risk.
A full replacement means removing the damaged outlet, inspecting the surrounding wiring, and installing new components. You should always hire a licensed electrician to handle this work.
Water Damage in Your Home?
Water in electrical outlets is not something to take lightly. It can lead to short circuits, electrical fires, corrosion, and mold, all of which can put your family and your home at serious risk.
Act quickly and carefully. Shut off the power, stay away from the affected area, and call a licensed electrician.
When the water damage goes beyond a single outlet, you need a team you can trust. SERVPRO professionals are available 24/7 to assess the full extent of the damage and get your home back to normal. Visit our Water Damage Restoration FAQ page to learn more about what to expect during the restoration process.
Find your local SERVPRO location today.
FAQs
What happens if water gets in an electrical outlet?
Water in an electrical outlet can cause a short circuit, corrode the internal components, overheat the wiring, and create a serious fire hazard. In severe cases, it can also cause an electrical shock. If you have water coming from an outlet, shut off the power and call an electrician.
Can water damage an electrical outlet?
Yes. Water can corrode the metal components inside an outlet, damage the wiring, and make the outlet unsafe to use. Even small amounts of moisture can cause lasting damage if a licensed electrician doesn’t address it quickly.
Can water in an electrical outlet cause a fire?
Yes. Water can cause wiring to overheat and spark, which can ignite materials inside your walls. This is why you should hire a licensed electrician to inspect any outlet exposed to water before you restore power to that area.
What should I do if water gets in the electrical outlet?
Stay away from the outlet and don’t touch it. Shut off power to the affected area at the breaker box. Once the power is off, dry any surrounding moisture and call a licensed electrician to inspect and repair the outlet before using it again.