What happens if a live wire comes loose from an electrical outlet?
Electrical outlets fit into electrical boxes. When the outlet is pushed into the box the wires have to bend and become bunched up. Over time the wires might disconnect from the outlet if they are not fastened securely.Outlet Does Not WorkThe most common problem when a wire comes loose is the outlet stops working. This will happen if the line wire, the wire carrying the current, is the one that disconnects.Short CircuitWhen the line wire disconnects it may contact other bare wires, or it may contact a metal surface. This causes a short circuit and trips the circuit breaker, or blows the fuse, in the building’s electrical panel.Arc FaultSometimes a line wire will come loose and not trip the circuit breaker, but instead will continuously arc electricity to a nearby surface or wire. This causes heat that can eventually ignite nearby wood or other combustible materials.Electrical Shock HazardWhen a line wire comes loose and contacts a material that will conduct electricity, like a metal tab
