i have a little heater plugged to the wall.. i'll say it was plugged for 2 hours this time..but when we pulled it out it burnt my hubbies hand it was so hot... then the plastic around one of the prongs was melted a little.. is it the outlet or the heater you think.. the heater was anly like a month or 2 old and i have been using the same plug the whole time..
2007-01-25 03:17:03 · 5 answers · asked by charma694u 2 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
it was sitting on a chair away from everything.. just like it says to in the book
2007-01-25 03:26:14 · update #1
my power was like 400.00 for 1 month.. do you think this would make it that high... last month it was only.. like 200.00
2007-01-25 04:21:51 · update #2
A loose connection will cause the plug to overheat. This could have been a defect inside the plug, or it could be a problem in the receptacle (outlet). If you think the plug is still usable, try running the heater in a different outlet to see if it overheats. A little warmth is normal, but the plug shouldn't get hot. If the plug is unusable or it still overheats, you'd better replace the plug with a new one. It's easy to do.
However, if the plug seems to be OK, you need to look into the receptacle. First find the circuit breaker and turn off power to that branch circuit. Then remove the receptacle from the wall and check to see if the wires are connected tightly. Some electricians push the wires into little holes on the back side of the receptacle, but I prefer to use the screw terminals because you can be sure it's a tight connection. If all the connections appear to be tight, then I'd replace the receptacle because the problem must be in the internal contact with the plug.
2007-01-25 03:33:39 · answer #1 · answered by Tech Dude 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Very much doubt it was your outlet...sometimes on those little heaters they don't use the proper cord. It should have a polarized plug(3 prongs) and the cord should be thick like a computer cord. Those heaters sometimes require a lot of energy and a cheap cord and plug isn't sufficient to conduct that energy. Sometimes a unknown power surge(like if the power goes off temporarily)can increase the load and if the cord isn't a good one it can't handle the energy. If the heater was far away from the plug then it wasn't the heater itself melting it. Don't use it again and return it to the store to get your money back. It's also a good idea to make sure the connections in the receptacle are not loose.
Electric heaters use a lot of energy and very well could account for the high bill, especially if you leave it on all the time. Electric heating is very expensive.
2007-01-25 03:43:39 · answer #2 · answered by lookwid 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Was the heater pushed up against the wall on top of the plug? The heater might have melted it if this was the case. That happened with our toaster oven in the kitchen. If not, it might be a manufacturer defect. Take it back to where you bought it from.
2007-01-25 03:21:46 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
DO NOT USE THAT HEATER AGAIN. i am currently sitting in a motel room because my neighbor, to whom i am attached, continued use of a defective heater and burned out both our homes. be safe- the price to pay for taking the chance isn't worth it. return the heater to the store.
2007-01-25 03:27:55 · answer #4 · answered by shar71vette 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You need to have the heater checked out before you use it again,you could burn down you're house,this is a serious problem...
2007-01-25 05:54:16 · answer #5 · answered by Tony H 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋