Why Does Your Outlet Smell Like a Dead Animal in Duxbury, MA?

If you have an odd odor in your house, finding the source can be a significant chore. After a bit of an investigation, you might discover that your electrical outlet smells like a dead animal. This can indicate a significant problem with the outlet overheating, among other causes. 

For help with a strange smell in an outlet or other outlet safety hazards, rely on our top electricians in Duxbury, MA. Learn more about how our licensed professionals can help you fix this issue. We’ll visit your house and look for potential dangerous hazards causing the smell.

Reasons for Odd Odors in Duxbury, MA, Power Outlets

When you have an outlet problem, the odor might resemble a burning smell in an outlet, smoke, or singed materials. You might also notice the electrical outlet smells like a dead animal or a fish. Sometimes, the odor will resemble ammonia or urine. Any of these odors could indicate a problem.

Damage in the Outlet

When electric outlets are damaged, they can generate an odd odor. The damage might not be visible, but you might see arcing or sparking as you plug items into them.

Such damage can occur because of consistent overheating, too. A short circuit in the wiring could create a fishy odor.

Plastic That’s Burning

When older plastic starts to melt inside the wall because of overheating wiring, it might release odd odors. Your electrical outlet sometimes smells like a dead animal when this happens.

Overloaded Wiring

When you have an appliance plugged into the wall that has excessive power demands, it could cause the wiring and the nearby area to overheat, generating the odd odor. This is a warning sign that you shouldn’t ignore. Call our professionals to fix the issue before it leads to a fire.

Loose Plug Connection

If you don’t have the electric plug tightly inserted, you might notice an odor. The loose connection can lead to arcing, which generates a smell and creates a potential fire hazard.

Dead Rodent Inside the Wall

A possible answer when an electrical outlet smells like a dead animal is that a dead animal is actually inside the wall. This could happen if a mouse, rat, or another small animal died inside the wall. The odor may intensify slowly over time as the carcass decays.

You might need to call an exterminator or handyperson to remove the expired rodent from inside the wall, eliminating the odor. This person might need to cut into the wall to remove the animal. If you believe the rodent gnawed on the wiring in the wall, our electricians can inspect the wiring for damage.

A House Pet Is Marking the Spot

When an outlet smells like urine, you might have a dog or cat that is marking it. Try cleaning the area to remove the smell. If the marking has occurred for a long time, the urine could penetrate the holes for the plugs and damage the wiring, meaning you need to call for repair.

Dangers of a Strange Odor in an Electrical Outlet

Frequently, when an electrical outlet smells like a dead animal, the issue occurs in an older home. You could have a serious problem happening that might result in a fire. Older homes may have frayed insulation inside the wall that is heating up and causing the smell.

In Duxbury, MA, significant residential growth occurred in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. Consequently, we often provide service to older homes in this area. Although it may seem embarrassing to have a strange smell inside your wall, we repair this problem frequently.

We serve all the neighborhoods in Duxbury, MA, as well as any surrounding areas. Whether you live near Duxbury Beach Park, Duxbury Yacht Club, Waiting Hill Preserve, or Wharf Creek Estes Woods, we provide electrical repair service for you. 

When we arrive, we’ll inspect the area near any odd-smelling outlets. We can often fix these issues on the same day. We can also answer questions such as why your outlets stopped working or whether scorched outlets are dangerous.