Care guide · Spills · Australia
Spilled Water on a Pop Up Power Point? What to Do
Drinks get spilled in every kitchen. Here’s what to do if one lands on or near your pop up power point, and the everyday habits that keep liquid away from it.
By Seb Aroney, founder of Modern Power Solutions · Updated November 2026
Quick answers
Right now
If you’ve just spilled something
Keep wet hands off it. Dry your hands before you touch the unit, its plugs or the power point under the benchtop.
Wipe up the spill straight away. Use a soft, dry cloth on the lid and the benchtop around it.
Don’t raise it or plug anything in while it’s wet. Leave appliances unplugged until everything is dry.
If liquid may have got inside, switch it off. Switch off at the power point under the benchtop and unplug the unit. If water has reached that power point, or the unit is wired in, switch its circuit off at the switchboard instead.
Contact us before using it again. Or have a licensed electrician check it. Tell us your order number and what was spilled.
If it got inside
What water does, and what to do
Water conducts electricity. Inside a power point it can cause a short circuit or a shock, and it can damage the parts inside. That’s why the Wiring Rules require RCDs (safety switches) in homes: they cut the power when current leaks.
Everyday habits
Keep liquid away from the power points
Where it goes
Placing your pop up power point away from spills
Outside the sink zone. Under AS/NZS 3000, at least 150 mm from the side of a sink that holds 40 litres or less, and outside the zone 0.4 m above it. For sinks and tubs over 40 litres it’s 0.5 m from the side and 1 m above.
At least 150 mm from the cooktop. No power point within 150 mm of the edge of the cooktop.
On an RCD-protected circuit. The Wiring Rules require 30 mA RCDs (safety switches) on all final subcircuits in homes.
Wiring by a licensed electrician. No power point under the benchtop? Have a licensed electrician fit one.
The full rules, with a sink-size tool, are in are pop up power points legal in Australia?
This guide is general care advice, not electrical advice. If you’re unsure about anything wired in, ask a licensed electrician.
Spill got inside? Talk to our team
Unplug it, then send us your order number and what happened through our support form, or email contact@modernpowersolutions.com.au. We’ll tell you what to do next.
Questions
Spills and power points: FAQs
What should I do if water gets in a power point?
Keep wet hands off it. Switch the circuit off at the switchboard, then wipe the power point and the area around it dry. If water got inside, have a licensed electrician check it before you use it again. For a pop up power point, switch off at the power point under the benchtop, unplug it and contact us.
What happens if you spill water on a power point?
Water conducts electricity, so it can cause a short circuit or a shock, trip the safety switch (RCD) and damage the power point. The Wiring Rules require RCDs in homes because they cut the power when current leaks.
Should I turn the power off at the switchboard?
Yes. If water got inside the power point, or you can’t switch off and unplug without touching water, turn that circuit off at the switchboard first.
Why did my safety switch trip after a spill?
It sensed current leaking and cut the power, which is its job. Leave it off until everything is dry, and if water got inside the power point, have it checked before you switch it back on.
Can I use a power point again after a spill?
Not until it’s dry, and if water got inside, not until it’s been checked. For a pop up power point, contact us before using it again; for a wall power point, ask a licensed electrician.
What if my pop up power point gets wet inside?
Switch off at the power point under the benchtop and unplug it (or turn the circuit off at the switchboard if that power point is wet), then contact us before using it again. Don’t raise it or plug anything in while it’s wet.
How far from a sink does a power point have to be?
Under AS/NZS 3000, at least 150 mm from the side of a sink that holds 40 litres or less, and outside the zone 0.4 m above it. For sinks and tubs over 40 litres it’s 0.5 m from the side and 1 m above.
Can a power point go next to a cooktop?
Not within 150 mm of the edge of the cooktop. Further than that is fine.
