Does Your Connections (Plugs?) Get Very Hot?

Updated on February 17, 2012
Y.C. asks from Orlando, FL
5 answers

I was just vacuuming and when I took the cable off the plug, it was really hot, no just the metal part but the cable for a few inches, enough to get my attention.
I went to check other plugs (no sure if this is the right word?) and many of them get very hot to, but the ones where is a....no sure what is the word, those things you plug on the wall so you can plug more then one thing, how are they call?
Well, from those the cables don't come hot.
I am just wondering if this is normal and I just didn't notice before or if perhaps is something wrong with them, too much power?
BTW, in one of my past post asking about my electric bill I got advice to contact my electric company to get somebody to come and check. I call them but they told me I have to be at least a 6 month client for them to provide this service, and after that I have to wait because they have a waiting list. We have only be here for 2 months, sigh.
If soothing is wrong I am going to have to call an electrician, but I wanted to ask you first if this is normal.
Thank you

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More Answers

A.R.

answers from Houston on

Your vacuum is pulling too much current so the cord is heating up. It probably won't matter if you change outlets. It happens with our vacuum too. I don't worry about it personally.

1 mom found this helpful

J.W.

answers from St. Louis on

Wellllll, here is the thing, vacuums use a lot of electricity but heat tends to be caused by arcing. So it is possible that through use the wires are starting to come lose in the plug, not the outlet.

Not sure how old the vacuum is but you may want to have a repair shop check it out.

1 mom found this helpful
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D.N.

answers from Chicago on

It can be. The outlet extensions that allow more than one item plugged in the same outlet kind of insulate the cord plug since it is not plugged directly into the outlet. Usualy, mine are more warm than actually hot since they are closer to the wires. And mine get hot if I am doing something long term, like vacuuming the whole house, versus just one room, the cord gets hot.
I didn't see your last post but since the compnay won't do anything for 4 months, you could check your power yourself. We did this a few years ago at the circuit breaker. But then found out we could have broken it. oops. Anyway, go room to room for a few weeks, at the same time of day so you can isolate it. If you have a smart meter or other way to tell what the usage is at that time of day it will be even easier. Unplug the major sources of energy. Weeks 1, 2 and 3, unplug the fridge for 3 hours. As long as it is not opened during this time, the food will not spoil. Your next bill you will see if there is a decrease. if not, something is wrong. Same throughout the other rooms but different weeks.
We made changes in the amount of items in teh freezer and turned the temp dial up to 2 from 3. It cut our bill about $3 a month. Not much but ever ylittle bit.

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T.F.

answers from Miami on

Better safe than sorry is my opinion. No, that doesn't sound normal. No idea if whatever is wrong (if there is something wrong) would cause your electric bill to be high but maybe? If you can swing it, I would certainly contact an electrician to make sure you don't have a fire hazard on your hands. If you rent, this should be on the landlord. Good luck .... be safe!

J.P.

answers from Lakeland on

That is not normal and I would be very concerned that it is happening with other outlets as well. How old is the house/apartment that you are living in? Sometimes the older wires go bad and/or they are in need of being updated.
Please have an electrician check your home, including the wires coming into the house. I know where I am in Florida they are under ground and they can be damaged there too.

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