Saved by the...

[lirion]

Actually, I don't know what saved me.
In the process of cleaning, I jsut unplugged the extension cord my oil heater is plugged into, so I cna put it away given proper Summer has now arrived. The heater had been a bit dodgy the last couple of times I used it - it's old and I figued was wearing out.
But nothing rpepared me for unplugging the cords and finding the connection a melted black and brown ruin. Scary shit! I am incredibly lucky it did not cause a fire. The connecting plug has blackened metal pronbgs and melted palstic stuck to it. The socket of the extension cord is irretrievably damaged, burned and melte dbeyond and use. I can't describe it. But it gave me one hell of a shock to look at! The heater shall be going to it's final death, and I shall be grateful the circuit was killed rather than starting a fire.

Comments

[txxxpxx.livejournal.com]

Did you have it on a timer? I had a similar thing happen when we had a column heater in the bathroom set on a timer so it was warm when we went to have our shower in the morning.

Very scary. Please make sure you cut both the extension cord & the heater plugs off before disposing of them....just in case.

Glad that things didn't turn out waaaaay worse.

[muukau.livejournal.com]

Wow, very lucky indeed!

Oil heaters always make me nervous. Especially old ones. >_>

[shadow-5tails.livejournal.com]

*twiiiitch*

Well, I'm glad you're discovering it this way, long after the fact, rather than the other...

(Also, "shocked" seems entirely too apt an emotion for a post like this - in all the wrong ways.)

[lirion.livejournal.com]

Nope, it was jsut old and pulled down an awful lot of pwer - I remember complaining to my parents that the cords used to get warm and they said it should be ok. Welll....

And yes, my father the mechanical engineer has taken heater nad cord away to be responsibly disposed of. After throwing somewhat of a pink fit and asking what on earth I'd done because he'd never seen one like that before - none of which made me feel any less trmebly about my find I might add!

And yeah, I got lucky here

[lirion.livejournal.com]

Well you see the wall heater I've got in the flat died last winter - syarted making burning smells when turned on. So I resorted to my backup. Which, don't get me wrong, heated the place up like a charm, but clearly with side effects!

[lirion.livejournal.com]

Oh there Yes, of the ways to make this particular discovery, I certainly found the msot pleasant one!

*innocent look* I don't know what you mean! :-)

[penguin2.livejournal.com]

Argh, it seems sometimes that the elements (literally and figuratively?) have it in for you! What with all your running troubles with things involving heat and water :-S

I too am glad you discovered this when things were less...electric :-)

[vaingloriesque.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you're ok. :)

[lirion.livejournal.com]

It never rains but it pours firewater? I don't know. Apaprently my flat has reache dthat certain age where everything fails.

Heh and ta. I'm glad things didn't go boom!

[lirion.livejournal.com]

Thanks honey :)

[penguin2.livejournal.com]

Sounds like my body - and likewise :D