Freaking out a tad. Opinions?

[RoxMonster]

I got home from work about 40 min. ago and when I walked into the kitchen from the garage, I immediately smelled the odor of plastic burning. It smelled like, in our old apartment, when something would fall on the hot coils of the dishwasher and steam up.

I immediately checked the stove and oven--off. I checked the dishwasher--dirty and didn't run yesterday either. Nothing else was on in the house. I went in the basement and didn't smell it there. I went upstairs and after coming back downstairs, it hit me again halfway down the stairs. So I think it's something on the first floor but have no idea what.

I called H and he is on his way home from work. If he smells it too, I think we're calling the (non-emergency) fire department number. Is that what you would do? I'm terrified there is a fire going on in our walls. Anyone ever had this smell at home before?

[angelaa73]

Yes. Call now

[melindafelinda]

Sometimes that happens when I turn the lights on after dusting or something.

[TrickyBob]

It might be wiring melting or an outlet melting or something.

Don't wait on this.

[shostakovich]

It's a good idea to call, as soon as possible. It could be faulty wiring, because the casing for some wiring is plastic.

[usuallylurking]

Check all of your outlets! There was a poster in the past month or so that the plug-in was shorting out and left black marks on the wall behind the couch. Anybody remember what I'm talking about?

[TC]

Don't wait for him to get home, go ahead and call. Especially if you are in an apartment. They will not mind you being cautious about this sort of thing.

[TC]

Apr 17, 2014 18:49:58 GMT -5 usuallylurking said:

Check all of your outlets! There was a poster in the past month or so that the plug-in was shorting out and left black marks on the wall behind the couch. Anybody remember what I'm talking about?

I do, yep, and I am now paranoid of using the outlet behind my couch.

[copperboom]

Call right now. This is not worth waiting on.

[noodleskooze]

Call.

[fezzik]

I agree, you should call.

[mividaloca]

When I changed the light bulbs. In the chandelier ( the ones that look like candles) it smells like burnt plastic and pee.

[malibu]

Apr 17, 2014 18:49:58 GMT -5 usuallylurking said:

Check all of your outlets! There was a poster in the past month or so that the plug-in was shorting out and left black marks on the wall behind the couch. Anybody remember what I'm talking about?

Yeah, that was me! The power strip went bad and slowly melted the outlet.

ETA: Also, there was never any smoke or flames. The only clue was the smell of burning plastic.

[thedude]

Apr 17, 2014 18:55:38 GMT -5 malibu said:

Apr 17, 2014 18:49:58 GMT -5 usuallylurking said:

Check all of your outlets! There was a poster in the past month or so that the plug-in was shorting out and left black marks on the wall behind the couch. Anybody remember what I'm talking about?

Yeah, that was me! The power strip went bad and slowly melted the outlet.

That was horrifying. Our house is old and while most of the wiring has been updated, we still have a few areas of old school knob and tube. Several electricians have said it's ok for now, but it's at the top of our list of updates and really moved up after seeing your picture.

[RoxMonster]

OK H got home right after I posted this, so I hadn't been responding.

He said he smells nothing. He walked around the entire house sniffing vigorously and doesn't smell a thing. I don't smell anything now either, but I wasn't sure if it was because it went away or I had just gotten accustomed to smelling it. I do plan on checking all of our outlets, because that's something I hadn't thought of. He is wondering if a smell from the neighborhood wafted inside, like if our neighbors had been using their grill.

So now I'm torn. If the smell is gone now, which it seems to be, I feel silly calling the fire dept and saying "Well, earlier today I had smelled such and such but now it's gone." But then I'm paranoid and wonder if I still should.

[malibu]

The night it happened at our house, I smelled it for hours and H smelled nothing. It wasn't until I'd gone to bed that he finally smelled it and moved the couch.

[shostakovich]

Try stepping out of the house for like five minutes or so. Then come back in and see if you smell it again.

[flutterfly]

I would definitely call.

[RoxMonster]

OK. I'll take the dog out for a bit, come back in and see if I still smell it.

[karmasabiotch]

I'd call now and not care if my H smelled it. Follow your instincts.

[wildfloweragain]

They probably won't find it either if you can't smell it now, but they won't mind coming out. Call the fire dept. Emergency number is fine.

...sent from my Jedi Mind.

[katb]

Apr 17, 2014 18:49:58 GMT -5 usuallylurking said:

Check all of your outlets! There was a poster in the past month or so that the plug-in was shorting out and left black marks on the wall behind the couch. Anybody remember what I'm talking about?

This.  Very scary on what could have happened after they went to bed.