Urgent!! Burnt plug

[Yorkymidge]

Hello,

I have a double plug socket in my rented house where my boiler and washer (extension lead) are plugged in. Yes i know that they should be seperate plugs and definitely not an extension, but my washer wont reach the plug and my landlord wont fit more plugs.

Anyway, the extension lead where my washer was plugged in has melted the socket, i’m lucky i caught it. My partner switched the plugs, not noticing it was burnt (don’t know how you can’t notice?!) so it’s burnt both. It doesn’t look like it’s damaged the socket but i’m skeptical that it’s safe to use. I can’t get hold of the landlord, but need to plug my boiler back in (the plug that ISN’T melted) what should i do? Is it safe? Both are unplugged and the switches off now. Pics for clarification.

you contact your landlord as a matter of urgency, keep trying. (Is there an agent?)

If England, the electrical safety check is mandatory from 1st April. Has yours been done yet?

Agree - keep trying for landlord. Can you get away with not plugging in boiler for a few hours?

Boiler??? On a three pin domestic extension lead??? Are you nuts? This must surely be overloading the electrical circuit. Did you have a suitable fuse in the plug? The washing machine needs its own plug and separate socket. Ask the landlord to install suitable sockets in gthe right place. A boiler sounds dodgy to me anyway. What do you use it for? Anyone can see this is not safe.

There should be an electrical inspection of the property by law. Ask for one. Urgently.

@murbblurb @Bobbybobbins @PresentingPercy
Still can’t get in contact. I had my mandatory electrical check a couple of weeks ago and it apparently passed. I’ve also mentioned this plug socket to a different electrician when i first moved in because the switches didn’t work, so he just replaced the cover. I know for a fact that a boiler shouldn’t be plugged into it and that large appliances like my washer shouldn’t be either, but i’ve had no other option, especially since 2 electricians haven’t done anything about it.

It was the washer that was on the extension lead, not the boiler, but i know this is no better. I specifically bought an expensive masterplug extension lead for this purpose so try make it as safe as possibly because obviously i need use of my washer but it’s melted :(

Boilers use very little electric, I think some people are confused with immersion heater.

I’d say looking at the picture of the plug , the fault was in the plug, if it’s a moulded plug ( which it should be ) then it’s it a manufacturer fault , you can either cut the plug off and fit a new on or take it back to where you got it and ask for a exchange.

Washing machines are fine on a normal plug,

'apparently passed' - you should have been given a copy of the report.

@Chumleymouse so a boiler should be in a normal plug? And a washer is ok on an extension? That wasn’t the impression i was given previously, although i know nothing about electrics. Would you say the plug is safe to use? Since it’s external and doesn’t look to of damaged internally. I know it’s the plugs fault and i can see it’s melted, but feel like this is from the washer overloading it.

@murbblurb i was given a copy of the report and it read satisfactory but it makes me question it, due to having big appliances and lights tripping frequently

@murbblurb but again, i know nothing about electrics so i could be wrong

Jumping in here to ask an electrical question... is a dishwasher ok in a normal plug?

@Taoneusa

Jumping in here to ask an electrical question... is a dishwasher ok in a normal plug?

Yes most appliances are fine although with cooker/oven you need to check.

[quote Yorkymidge]@Chumleymouse so a boiler should be in a normal plug? And a washer is ok on an extension? That wasn’t the impression i was given previously, although i know nothing about electrics. Would you say the plug is safe to use? Since it’s external and doesn’t look to of damaged internally. I know it’s the plugs fault and i can see it’s melted, but feel like this is from the washer overloading it.

@murbblurb i was given a copy of the report and it read satisfactory but it makes me question it, due to having big appliances and lights tripping frequently[/quote]
Do you run both appliances on the extension lead at same time?

@LIZS
Hi, i have a double plug socket. The boiler is plugged into the wall, running 24/7, the washer is plugged into an extension lead which in turn is plugged into the same double socket. So both run at the same time, but ones directly into the wall and one’s on an extension lead

Is it only wm on the extension lead?

I'm not an electrician so not commenting on the actual issue although I'd be very concerned.

I am losing faith in these reports though! If things keep tripping then something definitely isn't right and your landlord needs to fix it.

@LIZS yes it is

I dont think the boiler should go into a socket with a switch, so the original set up with switches not working could have been bodge job correct.

I wouldnt use the socket until an electrician has looked at it. Keep trying the landlord.
I would dispose of the extension lead.
Washing machine into extension cable isnt idea, but isnt dreadful.

A boiler only uses electric for ignition, temperature monitoring etc. It's fine on a normal plug though if you have a manual, check the fuse is appropriate.

Washers, dishwashers etc draw more current for heating, moving parts etc. Their plug would get warm in normal use but should not scorch unless it's faulty.

To answer your question, do not use that plug again. I assume that's the extension lead plug? I would dispose of the whole extension lead, tbh. If you need to use an extension lead then use a fresh one with a safety cut out but absolutely pressurise your landlord to perform their due diligence.

Is it an electric boiler or a gas boiler?

If gas, then the electricity is just to do the timer and the pilot light (I think).

If you smell the plugs and socket they may smell fishy, so need changing.

I honestly wouldn’t use the plugs or sockets until they’ve been checked by a competent electrician.

And the pump

Also agree not to use that socket again. It could start a fire.

Piglet John will know.
It will be to do with how many kilowatt of power each machine pulls. And what the supply to the socket is giving.

Do NOT use that socket until it has been assessed by a competent electrician. And the plug needs replaced.

And check your fuse box- surely the fuse should have tripped before the socket actually melted?

Whoever passed that on an electrical inspection needs to be reported to the professional body they are registered to.

Ideally a boiler should be on a switched fused socket ( better if it’s a neon ) but they will run fine on a normal plug . The downside of a normal plug is that there’s more chance of water getting in if there’s is a leak from the boiler. Same with fixed appliances washer/ dishwasher, but if they are on plugs it’s easier to remove them to change / fix them when there’s is a problem.

Looking at the picture it’s not a moulded plug and I’d say the fault was with whoever wired the plug on to the extension, not sure why it didn’t blow the fuse in the plug or the trip on the fuse board though.

I’m not an electrician either. But I do understand how houses are wired and how it all works.

Just get the landlord to send an electrician around and check it to be on the safe side op. 👍. Good luck .