24-hour emergencies
Sockets and switches not working, overheating or sparking in Seville, Spain
Sockets not working, loose, overheating or sparking are the most requested repair in Seville, Spain. We replace the socket (outlet) or switch, check the connection and the box, and if the problem comes from the circuit we track it down so it does not happen again.
Why sockets and switches fail
Sockets (outlets) and switches are the most used part of the installation and the part that wears out most. Every time you plug something in and pull it out, the internal contacts lose grip, and terminal screws loosen with heat and age. The most common faults are:
- The socket does not work, although the rest of the room does. Broken inside or a loose cable.
- The socket is loose and comes out of the wall when you pull the plug. The fixing claws are broken or the box is damaged.
- The socket gets hot or the plug comes out warm. Bad contact or overload.
- The socket sparks or has black marks. Worn contacts that cause small arcs.
- The socket smells of burning. The next step after heat: the plastic is melting. If that is your case, read burning smell.
- The switch does not turn the light on, stays pressed in or makes a noise when you press it.
One socket dead, or a whole area?
If a single socket is dead, the fault is almost always in that socket or its box. If a whole room or area has lost power at once, check the fuse board first: a circuit breaker that has dropped means an overload or a short circuit on that circuit, explained in MCB keeps tripping and short circuit. If the lever with the TEST button has dropped, it is an earth leakage: see RCD keeps tripping. And if the whole home is dark, see power cut at home.
The most frequent cause of heat: power strips and powerful appliances
In many homes a single socket feeds a power strip (extension lead) with the heater, the iron and the hairdryer, or the portable air conditioner in the bedroom. A general-purpose Schuko socket is not designed to carry the load of a heating appliance for hours on end. If its contacts are also slightly loose, the socket heats up and eventually burns.
The solution is not just to replace the socket: those loads have to be spread out or the appliance given a proper socket on its own circuit. If you want to add sockets where you now use power strips, we do it on extra sockets and lights.
How we replace sockets
- We switch off the circuit at the fuse board and check there is no voltage.
- We remove the socket and check the terminals, the cables and the condition of the box.
- We cut back damaged copper if it has overheated and reconnect on sound cable.
- We fit the new socket, in the range and series you choose: we can match the one you have or renew the whole home with a more modern series from manufacturers such as Simon or Schneider.
- We test the socket and check that it is earthed and that the circuit has the right protection, in line with ITC-BT-19 of the Spanish Low Voltage Electrotechnical Regulation and the UNE 20315 standard for plugs and sockets.
If, when we open the box, we see the problem comes from further back, for example a burnt joint or a cable with damaged insulation, we explain it before going on.
Old sockets in Seville homes
In the 1960s and 1970s flats of Nervión, Los Remedios or La Macarena we still find sockets with no earthing, Bakelite switches and junction boxes full of joints wrapped in insulating tape. A common case: the bedside socket, which feeds a portable air conditioner in summer and a heater in winter, ends up blackened and loose. In new homes in Sevilla Este or Los Bermejales the most common fault is different: mid-range switches that break with use and that the owner takes the chance to replace with a better-quality series.
If several sockets in your home fail at once, or the replacements keep repeating, a full electrical inspection is worth it.
Guide prices
| Job | Guide price (plus 21 % VAT) | Total with VAT |
|---|---|---|
| Replacing a socket or switch (per unit) | from 25 euros | from 30.25 euros |
| Repair including the box and connections | 40 to 50 euros | 48.40 to 60.50 euros |
| Making dangerous points safe (covers, open boxes) | 25 to 50 euros per point | 30.25 to 60.50 euros per point |
| New simple switch or socket with wiring | 30 to 50 euros | 36.30 to 60.50 euros |
The socket itself is not included if you choose a high-end range. Small repairs that are not urgent are on small electrical jobs.
In the meantime
Do not use the socket that is heating up or sparking, unplug whatever is connected and, if you notice a smell, switch off that circuit’s breaker. If there is also smoke or a burn mark that is growing, switch off the main switch and call our 24-hour emergency electrician; it is part of our emergency electrician service.
Where we do this most
Electrician in Nervión, Seville, Spain: 1960s and 1970s flats, rewiring and RCD faults
Electrician in Los Remedios, Seville, Spain: more power, fuse boards and earthing
Electrician in Triana, Seville, Spain: patio houses, riverside damp and bars
Electrician in Sevilla Este, Seville, Spain: EV chargers and brand-new flats
Frequently asked questions
Is it normal for a socket to get warm?
A socket can be slightly warm if it feeds a powerful appliance for hours, but never hot to the touch. If it burns, smells of plastic or the plug has deformed, there is a bad contact or the circuit is overloaded. Unplug the appliance and do not use that socket again until it has been checked.
What happens if a socket gets very hot?
Heat degrades the plastic of the socket and the insulation of the cables in the box, and over time it can cause a short circuit or the start of a fire. The socket has to be replaced, the cables reaching it checked and the appliance confirmed not to exceed what that socket can take.
How much does it cost to replace a socket in Seville, Spain?
Replacing a socket or a switch starts at about 25 euros per unit plus 21 % VAT (30.25 euros in total), and a repair that includes checking the box costs around 40 to 50 euros plus VAT (48.40 to 60.50 euros). If you change several on the same visit, we give you a combined price depending on the range you choose.
Why does one socket not work when the others do?
It may be the socket itself, broken inside, a loose cable in its terminal or a loose joint in the junction box that feeds it. If several sockets in a row on the same wall stop working, the fault is usually at the connection of the first one, which feeds the rest.
Why does the socket spark when I plug something in?
A tiny spark when you plug in an appliance that is switched on is normal. If the spark is big, leaves black marks or happens every time, the socket contacts are loose or worn. That arcing heats the socket and gradually burns it, so it should be replaced as soon as possible.
Can sockets be moved, and can I swap them for UK sockets?
We can move a socket, add new ones or change a single switch for a two-way one. If a chase has to be cut or new cable run, we quote it separately and explain the options, including surface-mounted trunking when you want no building work. Spanish installations use the Schuko socket (type F), so UK plugs need an adaptor or a plug change.
Related services
Extra sockets and lights
We install extra sockets in your apartment in Seville, Spain where you now use power strips, new light points, two-way switches, USB, data and TV sockets, and new lines for appliances that need them. It is one of the jobs most requested when moving into a new-build home or rearranging the furniture.
Burning smell
A burning smell from a socket, smoke from a box or a melted cable are warnings of a possible electrical fire. Switch off the power at the main switch and call an electrician: we find the source, replace the damaged cables and switches and check that your installation is safe again.
Short circuit
If there has been a short circuit at home, with a flash, a smell of plastic or a circuit breaker that trips the moment you push it up, a short circuit electrician in Seville, Spain finds the exact point (cable, joint, socket, light fitting or appliance), repairs it and checks that the protections worked as they should.
MCB keeps tripping
If your MCB keeps tripping when you switch on the oven, the air conditioning or the washing machine, that circuit is overloaded or has a fault. We check the line, spread the loads or replace the circuit breaker (magnetotérmico) so your kitchen or living room stops losing power.
Electrical inspection
A home electrical safety inspection in Seville, Spain tells you, with measurements rather than guesswork, what state your home is in: earthing, cable insulation, RCDs, fuse board and cable sizes. You get a report with what is fine, what is worth improving and what is urgent. Ideal before buying, renting or renovating.
Need an electrician in Seville, Spain?
Call us or send a WhatsApp message with a photo of the job. You get a fixed quote before any work starts.