Shit. WTF.

[sparklebutch]

It's four in the morning. We're in bed. Not a soul moving in the house, even the felines are deep asleep.

There's a strange noise. And a strange smell. I get up.

Fucking electric kettle is smoking. The switch is black.

The thing was *off*. It had cold water in it. No one's touched it in two hours or so.

WTF? How did it do this?

Now I'm thinking, the next kettle can do that any time. If we leave the house, and we think everything's safe because, everything's turned off - it's not safe. I've been leaving my cats with a kettle that can burn itself without being touched.

I'm a bit scared.

Comments

[cyberducks.livejournal.com]

if the kettle was turned off but plugged in and it did that - it's malfunctioning/or defective and you need to get rid of it. Because the darn thing is a fire hazard. Scary!

I always unplug everything like a toaster oven, etc. when I am done using it, just in case.

[sparklebutch.livejournal.com]

Washed it with water, it still smoked. Kept it in bucket until morning, then threw out. But how can I unplug every single electrical device in the house whenever I leave for a few hours?

[fleta.livejournal.com]

demonic... I mean defective kettle.

I'd call the manufacturer and get a refund for it.

And unplug everything that you can that isn't on a protector when you leave.

scary.

Tell ethan to stop playing in the kitchen.

[sparklebutch.livejournal.com]

I think it might be too old for a refund... but anyway, Cat (the human one) threw it out already.

I can't unplug everything when I leave; too many things, also, for example, can't unplug the fridge.

And Ethan wouldn't do such a thing... Would he?

[remey.livejournal.com]

the stuff nightmares are made of. very scary. if you are worried about other stuff doing that, uplug it all. eep.

[sparklebutch.livejournal.com]

Now I worry about everythnig doing it, but it's unrealistic to just unplug everything, no? And yeah, very scary, especially when Cat (partner) is afraid of fire.

(Not that I love fires, knockonwood. Just, you know)

[remey.livejournal.com]

yeah, fires = bad. yeah, maybe not unplug everything, but maybe find which is most at risk to randomly go fsja;lkdhg and make sure to unplug it and all..

[sparklebutch.livejournal.com]

Fire bad, tree pretty.

Plugs to be used in fic, and not with electricity.

Well, maybe a bit with exlectricity. Hmm.

On a serious note, I don't really know what's a risk, since I knew kettles are a problem if left *on*, but didn't know they can spontaneously combust.

[calime]

Ow.
Unplug stuff?
Also, THAT kettle - like people have said, well, return to seller. With no love. Seriously, stuff isn't supposed to do this.
*hugs*

[sparklebutch.livejournal.com]

Unplug? Like, everything? TVs, fridge? Every time? Headache.

Poor kettle went trash bin. I sad for it. But can't return to seller.

*hugs*

[mischief5.livejournal.com]

Glad you all are safe. About thirty years ago, there was an issue here in the States with defective coffee makers setting houses on fire. Lawsuits followed and now all plug-ins in kitchens are supposed to have their own built-in circuit breakers. I still unplug everything anyway. Scary thing.

[sparklebutch.livejournal.com]

*hugs*
Because I didn't return them when I was grry.
Also you deserve.

[mischief5.livejournal.com]

Thanks. :) And just unplug the small things: toasters, coffee makers, etc. The big things should be safe. I've never heard of any of those catching fire. Here, the big stuff all run on 220v and have ground plugs. The little ones that run one 110v and no ground plugs worry me.

[sparklebutch.livejournal.com]

I no sure is like that here.

[mischief5.livejournal.com]

Do your fridge and stove have big plugs with 3 prongs? If so, they're safe. Anything with 3 prongs is safe (like your computer). It's the ones with heating elements and just 2 prongs that I unplug (but not lamps, radios, tvs, etc). Hope that helps.

[sparklebutch.livejournal.com]

All things here have three. That kettle had three. Of all the electric devices we have, I think only the humidifier have two.

Like I said, things are different in different places.

[ceruleancat.livejournal.com]

Most things are grounded. TVs, computer speakers and humidifier are the only two pronged elements, and we certainly unplug the humidifier.

Thing is, the ground only helps to conduct the electric charge to the earth, to prevent electric shock when you touch an appliance. But any electric wiring can short or overheat and kill equipment and start a fire. That's the deal with electricity. That includes not only all appliances, but the lighting and any wiring in the walls. Ungrounded appliances or those with heating elements are just more dangerous.

[cinder1013.livejournal.com]

Glad you're safe, dear. *hugs*

I use an old fashioned kettle on the stove, but I do unplug lots of things. I read somewhere that it also reduces the electric bill.

[sparklebutch.livejournal.com]

*hugs*

What reduces, unplugging or using old fashioned? :) Anyway, I'm pretty sure we could burn an old fashioned one as well, as we have been known to forget pots full of water on the stove until they run dry. Electric ones are SUPPOSED to turn themselves off and LEAVE IT THAT WAY.

[babydraco.livejournal.com]

It turned ITSELF on?

[sparklebutch.livejournal.com]

Well, it wasn't really boiling the water, just the PLASTIC.

I have no idea what happened there.