# Wall socket behavior when overloaded **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 20, 2020, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wall-socket-behavior-when-overloaded/848242 "2020-02-20T16:37:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Showing post:** 16
**Author:** ![cmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@cmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmore)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2020, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wall-socket-behavior-when-overloaded/848242/16 "2020-02-21T00:32:11Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > 30 years old, I think. > > There’s a noticeable smoke odor which I suspect might be from plugging too many appliances into one socket’s wall power last night, but - there was no smoke smell during the 6-7 hours yesterday when it was all plugged in, only this morning. So it doesn’t make sense that the wall socket would have tolerated an overload for that long yesterday. > [@Washer with burnt odor - needing a fix or just wait it out?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/washer-with-burnt-odor-needing-a-fix-or-just-wait-it-out/847029/1): > > So I’ve been getting some confusing advice - after trying to wash a blanket in my top-loading washer (which wasn’t a big or heavy blanket, but I shouldn’t have done it,) there has now been a strong burnt odor that has permeated the house. I consulted online advice and the advice was “just wait for the washer to cool down and you can use it again” - but doesn’t the burnt odor mean the belt or something has - well, \*\*\*burnt \*\*\*and should not be used? > > Or is it something that despite being damaged, can be used fine the next time and in future as long as all future loads are normal weight? you’ve been getting a lot of smoke smell in your apartment lately. are these for sure isolated events, or are they related in any way? --- _[View the full topic](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wall-socket-behavior-when-overloaded/848242)._