If you smell something burning near an outlet or switch and can't find the source — stop using that circuit, flip the breaker, and call immediately. A burning smell from inside walls does not go away on its own.
Flickering lights, warm outlets, or aging knob-and-tube wiring are signs you need a licensed electrician now.
This is not a DIY repair. Contact a licensed electrician before touching any affected wiring or breakers.
Licensed electrician available in Falls Church — call now for urgent electrical issues.
Call NowRequest an EstimateFaulty wiring is the leading cause of residential electrical fires — and arc faults inside walls can burn for minutes before any alarm sounds.
Outlets should never feel warm during normal use. If an outlet or switch plate is warm to the touch, there's likely a loose connection, a damaged wire, or an overloaded circuit generating heat at the point of contact. That heat doesn't just mean inefficiency — it means arcing. An arc fault is an unintended electrical discharge that can ignite insulation, drywall, or framing inside your wall. The NEC has required AFCI breakers on bedroom circuits since 2002 for this reason. Older homes — and homes that have been partially updated — often lack that protection. A licensed electrician can identify the source and tell you what it takes to make it safe.
When wire insulation overheats, it releases a distinct smell — often described as burning plastic or a sharp, acrid odor. This smell can appear and disappear based on load: you notice it when you run the microwave and the dishwasher at the same time, and it's gone when you stop. It's easy to dismiss. But what you're smelling is insulation failing, and what you can't smell yet is the arc fault it's about to create. An intermittent burning smell near any outlet, switch, or panel is a diagnostic call. Not a wait-and-see situation.
Don't wait on this.
Ebenezer Electric Solutions LLC — licensed, insured, permitted.
Knob-and-tube wiring was standard from roughly the 1880s through the 1940s. The wire itself isn't inherently dangerous — but it has no ground conductor, the insulation degrades with age, and it was never designed for modern electrical loads. The bigger problem is what happens when it's been modified: prior owners often tapped into K&T circuits to add outlets or extend runs, using modern wire improperly connected to old ungrounded wire. If your home has K&T, the question isn't whether to replace it — it's how much is there, what condition is it in, and what's been done to it since original installation. We assess it and give you a clear scope before any work begins.
Whole-home rewiring is a significant project — but most rewiring jobs aren't whole-home. We start with a diagnostic: which circuits have issues, which are undersized, which are ungrounded, and where the K&T is. From there we scope the minimum necessary work to make the home safe and code-compliant versus a full replacement. Most jobs can be done without major demolition by running new wire through existing paths and access points. Every circuit we touch is tested before we leave. Permits are pulled and inspections are scheduled — this is not work that gets done without documentation.
We rewire to modern code — new circuits, proper grounding, and every connection tested.
Every job meets Virginia code requirements and is backed by full licensing and insurance.
We handle all required permits for this type of work so your project is inspected and documented.
You get a clear scope and price before work begins — no surprise charges.
Serving Falls Church and surrounding Northern Virginia neighborhoods with prompt scheduling.
Not necessarily. Older homes often have a mix of original wiring and later additions in varying condition. We start with a diagnostic to identify what's there, what's been modified, and what poses a risk. Many jobs scope to specific circuits or areas rather than the whole home. You get a clear picture and options before any work begins.
Aluminum branch-circuit wiring installed in the late 1960s and 1970s has a documented history of connection failures that create fire risk. If your home has aluminum wiring, the connections at every outlet, switch, and fixture need to be assessed. There are approved remediation methods short of full rewiring. We can assess your specific situation.
If your home was built before 1950 and hasn't been fully rewired, there's a reasonable chance some K&T is present — often visible in unfinished basement or attic spaces as ceramic knobs on joists and tubes through framing. We confirm what's there during a diagnostic and assess its condition and any modifications made to it.
Not always. Modern rewiring techniques use flexible conduit and existing access paths — attic runs, basement drops, and access points at outlets — to minimize wall cuts. Whether walls need to be opened depends on the house construction and where circuits need to run. We describe the approach when we quote.
Yes — an intermittent burning smell tied to load is a sign that insulation is overheating under current. Stop using that circuit and call us. This is not a wait-and-see situation; it indicates a wiring fault that can progress to an arc fault inside the wall.
“They did a great job replacing the lights under and on top of my kitchen cabinets. Nice clean work. Also very friendly.”
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“Ebenezer did an excellent job replacing a breaker and an outdated dryer outlet. His work looks great, and he is professional. He came the day after I called and worked for a reasonable rate. I highly recommend.”
Ebenezer Electric Solutions LLC
Ebenezer Electric Solutions LLC — licensed electrician, available for urgent calls.