I have a GFI outlet in a second floor bathroom. Using a hairdryer in that outlet causes an odor detectable on the first floor of the house. It is an old house (if that makes any difference). Any suggestions as to what is causing the problem?
2007-02-24 07:38:29 · 7 answers · asked by mainlandd 1 in Home & Garden ➔ Do It Yourself (DIY)
Possibly the hairdryer is clogged with hair, and the hair is burning. Try cleaning out the back end of the hairdryer first.
2007-02-24 15:45:38 · answer #1 · answered by gr8alarmguy 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
That does sound bizarre. In an old house, cold air settling downward between studs could carry the odor to lower floors; and the healthy nose is an amazingly sensitive organ.
IF YOU'RE KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT SAFETY ISSUES you might just ck the tightness of the wires fastened to the outlet terminals. I would think that a hairdryer alone on one of your circuits wouldn't be too much of a load; but then your house wiring just might be archaic. Do keep in mind SAFETY FIRST!!!
Any other relevant details/info? You're sure that there's a cause and effect between using upstairs GFI outlet making a downstairs odor.(?)
2007-02-24 16:36:57 · answer #2 · answered by answerING 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What kind of odor? Burning wire or what? If it's a properly installed GFI circuit, I think you're pretty safe. If the circuit is overloaded or short, the breaker on the outlet is supposed to trip, but it only works downline from the gfi outlet so you could potentially have a short or an overload before the outlet.
2007-03-02 03:07:20 · answer #3 · answered by Scott K 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What does the odor smell like? A burnt smell? A hairdryer does use a lot of power, but the breaker should trip if it goes over 15 amps, most hairdryers will be less that 12 amps. If you use it in a different outlet do you get a smell? What is the wattage rating of the hair dryer?
2007-02-24 20:43:30 · answer #4 · answered by Chalingo 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The GFI outlet might be wired wrong and in trying to cut off due to the high current drawn by the hair dryer. Try tripping the GFI and see if the hair dryer still works.
2007-03-02 00:17:07 · answer #5 · answered by don n 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
what's the gauge of the wire? sounds like you may be pulling too much current and heating some wires up. Sounds pretty dangerous. Is the GFI working correctly?
2007-02-25 00:55:02 · answer #6 · answered by mrdecember1983 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your hair dryer may be to high voltages for your old style outlit, Your wireing may need to be redone , You could start a fire in the walls, don t use it till you have checked it out with a Electricion, to be safe,
2007-02-24 16:01:58 · answer #7 · answered by marieaa65 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋