# Socket overheating, crackling or sparking

[Czytaj po polsku](https://wiki.datpol.com/books/co-nie-dziala-pomoc-techniczna/page/gniazdko-grzeje-sie-trzeszczy-lub-iskrzy)

**A hot plug, discolouration or a burning smell means you should stop using the equipment.**

Guidance for people using properties in Poland, written in British English. These are safe initial actions, not a diagnosis or electrical repair instructions.

> **Smoke, fire, electric shock or immediate danger: move away and call 112 in Poland. Do not touch anyone who is still in contact with an electrical supply. A DATPOL ticket does not replace an emergency call.**

## What to do now

1. Stop using the socket. Do not touch it to check its temperature or pull out a scorched or melted plug.
2. Switch off the affected circuit using an accessible control only if you can do so from a dry, safe position without approaching the damage. If unsure, move away and seek help.
3. Prevent others from using the socket and arrange an urgent electrical inspection. Cooling down does not mean the underlying fault has cleared.
4. If there is smoke, fire, sustained sparking or an escalating danger, move away and call 112 in Poland. Do not wait for an online support reply.

## What not to do

Do not apply water. Do not tighten terminals, cover damage with tape or use an adaptor to work around the fault. Do not energise the circuit to record a video.

## What to include in your support request

Provide the socket location, connected appliance, observed symptoms and whether the supply has been isolated. Take a photograph only if it does not require approaching the hazard.

[Contact DATPOL support](https://datpol24.com/?language=English) · [55 621 29 29](tel:+48556212929)

## Sources and scope

[Electrical Safety First — warning signs of electrical danger](https://www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/safety-advice/home-and-people/summer-tips/)

[PSP — electrical shock safety (Polish)](https://www.gov.pl/web/kppsp-radomsko/oparzenia)

Prepared by DATPOL, 15 September 2026. Observations help scope the support request; fault diagnosis and confirmation that an installation is safe require an appropriately qualified person. UK sources support safety principles, not Polish legal requirements.

## Related guidance

- [A socket has no power](https://wiki.datpol.com/books/what-is-not-working-technical-support/page/a-socket-has-no-power)
- [Scorched socket or burning smell after a storm](https://wiki.datpol.com/books/what-is-not-working-technical-support/page/scorched-socket-or-burning-smell-after-a-storm)
- [Circuit breaker trips when an appliance starts](https://wiki.datpol.com/books/what-is-not-working-technical-support/page/circuit-breaker-trips-when-an-appliance-starts)
- [RCD keeps tripping: what should I do?](https://wiki.datpol.com/books/what-is-not-working-technical-support/page/rcd-keeps-tripping-what-should-i-do)
- [Water has reached a socket or electrical installation](https://wiki.datpol.com/books/what-is-not-working-technical-support/page/water-has-reached-a-socket-or-electrical-installation)
- [Whole building without power: electrician or network operator?](https://wiki.datpol.com/books/what-is-not-working-technical-support/page/whole-building-without-power-electrician-or-network-operator)
- [Lights flicker or suddenly change brightness](https://wiki.datpol.com/books/what-is-not-working-technical-support/page/lights-flicker-or-suddenly-change-brightness)