Ok, so last week my smoke detector which is wired into my buildins electrical goes on the beserk and keeps on going off for now reason, we had it replaced, then today our vaccum wouldn't work in the plug although plugged in and turned on so i switch the plug and as i'm trying another outlet sparks come flying out of the plug with a small flame. My 3yr old did take a crrot peeler to the vacuum cord but the hubby being a 3rd yr electricians apprentice fixes it and does so properly without any crossed wires or anything. Could this problem be faulty wiring in our building? Or did my hubby miss something while fixing the vacuum? My son also never did this while the vacuum was plugged in and he never got down as far as the wires only the insulation. The building super says this is normal despite the fact that i told her the plug end on the vacuum was black and charred. Is it normal? I'm a girl what do i know!
Thanks!
2007-03-21 19:17:35 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
My biulding was built in 1954 and has never had any electrical upgrades since then.
2007-03-21 20:14:51 · update #1
While it's not uncommon to see a small spark when removing a plug from a socket there should never be a flame. Especially not enough to char the plug. It sounds like a wiring problem to me but it could be something simple like the plug isn't grounded properly. Maybe your electric company could give you some advice.
2007-03-21 19:32:24 · answer #1 · answered by myste 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Due to an internal fault in your vacuum cleaner (Which can happen due to wires getting too close and the insulation on the cord getting gradually burnt / low insulation reading), there was a short-circuit fault in your household wiring circuit.
Check the house fuses, and ensure the polarity when your husband replaces the R,Y,B phase wires correctly.
The smoke detector will start functioning .
2007-03-21 19:37:28 · answer #2 · answered by thegentle Indian 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It sounds like your building has some old or faulty wiring. I'd say have the handy hubby take off a light switch plate and look at the wires. Either way sparks is NOT normal! That would absolutely frieghten me especially with a little one in the house! Please have the hubby or an electrician look at the wiring!
2007-03-21 19:27:33 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I live in an old apartment building. Last summer my air conditioner kept blowing fuses, yes fuses, that's how old my apartment building is. I bought a new air conditioner and haven't blown another fuse since. I had an electrician come to my building for safety reasons and he told me the whole building needed re-wiring. Just thought I would relate that story to you.
I'm a guy, what do I know.
2007-03-21 19:28:17 · answer #4 · answered by sean1201 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ask your hubby to check the voltage and polarity at the questionable outlet and check for a faulty ground. also check the fuse box or circuit panel for the samething ( bad ground polarity and voltage).
2007-03-21 19:24:54 · answer #5 · answered by Ken 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
nahhh your building is fine vaccum cleaners always do that when they are on and you plug them in try it again... turn the vacuum on then plug it in and then theres a nice little spark for ya! and about the smoke detector... mmmm maybe it was a ghost
2007-03-21 19:23:35 · answer #6 · answered by i like tacobell 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋