Clues in when it cuts out
The pattern tells you a lot. If it depends on how the plug sits, or only works with the plug pushed to one side, the contacts in that outlet are worn. If it works only when you press the switch hard, or flicks off when bumped, the switch mechanism is failing. If it cuts out after something has run for a while, a loose terminal may be heating, expanding and letting go.
If two or three points on the same run drop out together, the loose joint is probably at another point upstream, or at the circuit breaker on the board.
Why another point can be the cause
Power points on a circuit are usually wired one after another, with the cable looping in and out of each outlet. A terminal that loosens at one point can affect every point after it, so the outlet that misbehaves isn't always the one at fault. Drilling, picture hooks and rodents in the roof can also damage a cable partway along a run, leaving a connection that only touches some of the time.
Why it needs checking now
A connection that makes and breaks sparks each time. Each spark pits the metal and adds resistance, so the joint runs hotter and drops out more often. It rarely fixes itself, and a circuit breaker won't help, because the current never rises above what the breaker allows. Energy Safe Victoria lists old or broken power points among the warning signs of faulty wiring, and says not to touch a loose, cracked or broken one but to have a licensed electrician replace it.
We trace the circuit, open the points along that run, remake or replace what is loose or burnt, and test the circuit before switching it back on. Replacing an outlet is electrical work, not a DIY job, and you get a Certificate of Electrical Safety for it.
What you can safely do now
- Stop using that point, and keep heaters, kettles and other heavy loads off the rest of that circuit until it is checked.
- Don't keep wiggling the plug or the switch to get it working.
- If the plate is warm, marked or loose, don't touch it. Switch that circuit off at the switchboard if it is safe to reach.
- Note which points drop out together and what was running at the time.
- If there is smoke, fire or immediate danger, get everyone out of the house.
Services that can help
Read more in our guides
Related questions
- Why is my power point warm?A plug that feels slightly warm after a heater or kettle has run for a while can be normal.
- Why do plugs keep falling out of my power point?Plugs drop out when the contacts inside the outlet have lost their grip, or when the outlet itself has come loose from the wall.
- How do I describe an electrical fault in my enquiry?Tell us what stopped working, when it started, what was running at the time and what the switchboard shows.
- An appliance stopped working after a storm. Was it a surge?It may have been.
Sources for this answer
4 sources, with the date each was checked
- 1.Energy Safe Victoria: Old switchboards, particularly those without a safety switch Old power switches or power points, particularly broken ones Flickering lights Sparks from switchboards, switches or power points. If your house is over 30… Accessed 30 September 2026.
- 2.Energy Safe Victoria: Do not touch or attempt to repair a loose, cracked or broken power point switch – cover it immediately and arrange for a licensed electrician to replace it. Accessed 30 September 2026.
- 3.Energy Safe Victoria: Electrical work isn’t a DIY job, even for small jobs such as changing power points or light switches. Accessed 30 September 2026.
- 4.Energy Safe Victoria: Whenever a licensed electrician completes any electrical installation work, they must provide a Certificate of Electrical Safety (COES). Accessed 30 September 2026.
General information for homes in Victoria. Every installation is different, so treat this as a starting point. Where this answer refers to Victorian safety or rental rules, the sources above have the current requirements.