Most people would agree that a fishy smell in your home isn't particularly pleasant. But you may not realise that sometimes it can be a sign of something far more dangerous than merely a nasty odour. The usual culprits are cooking seafood or leaving it to rot in the bin - but if you can't pinpoint the origin of the smell, it might be a sign of an electrical fault at a socket or switch that requires immediate attention.
We consulted a Welsh electrical expert, electrical maintenance director Simon Williams from Phillip Services Ltd in Swansea, about what exactly the unique smell means - and why it's important you call an electrician straightaway if you do notice it.
What can a fishy smell in the home signify?
Mr Williams explained that electrical components are made of a hard plastic known as bakelite. When this overheats and melts, it emits a fishy smell. The overheating itself is caused by arcing, which is when an electrical current - a small spark - jumps between two connections and causes a buzzing sound. "So if you've got a loose termination in a fuse board or in a socket - if it's not nice and tight - when it pulls current through, that's an arc. When that arcing occurs over a long period of time, it overheats," he says.
He adds that the problem can occur at switches too - especially shower pull cords. He explains: "A switch is two bits of metals touching two poles - so it makes contact and breaks contact. If those contacts are not tight, or get old or break down over time, then that can cause arcing as well."
Why should you never ignore the smell?
As Mr Williams explains, other signs of overheating are if socket holes are brown, or if the back of the socket - once opened up - is burnt. Another tell-tale sign is if a socket or appliance - like a shower, which pulls a lot of current - stops working. But these signs aren't always there or immediately visible, so a fishy smell might be the only indicator that something is wrong. It's therefore important you don't dismiss it - because the outcome could be fatal.
"It could cause an electrical fire long-term," says Mr Williams. "Obviously it's a nuisance if your socket stopped working - but that's not the end of the world, that could be repaired. But if parts of your home burned down, then it's a different story."
Asked whether the fishy smell is a sign the fire is imminent, Mr Williams says: "It could be imminent - it could be at any time, really. If it's got to that stage where it's starting to smell, there are things burning there."
What should you do if you notice the smell?
Mr Williams says the smell will be in a "particular area of the property", wherever the socket or switch is, which should help to narrow it down quickly. He says you should switch off the mains electricity and call an electrician immediately once you notice the smell. "If there's a fishy smell in the house, and nobody's been cooking and there's no reason for it, and it's in a particular area of the house, you should ring an electrician straightaway then to come and inspect it."
How can you avoid it happening?
Mr Williams says it's paramount people stick to the recommendations for getting an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) - every five years for tenants in rented properties and every ten years of home owners. "We recommend every five years," he says. "[An electrician] will spend some time going round your house to check all the electrical sockets and do some tests on the circuit."
He also recommends not plugging multiple appliances into one socket, as this will overload it. "If you're using televisions and stuff, it's not so bad - TVs and computers don't draw a lot of power. But if you've got washing machines, tumbler dryers - that type of thing - and extension leads, then they do draw a lot of current and that could cause problems as well." To sign up for the WalesOnline newsletter, click here.
