Home Improvement Stack Exchange
Home Improvement Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [fire-hazard]

Questions about suspected fire hazards: things that may be unacceptably likely to start a fire. If you feel a fire is imminent, turn off/disable the device before posting here.

130 questions
48
votes
10 answers

Should old knob and tube wiring be replaced?

I have been doing some electrical work in my house and I noticed it has old knob and tube wiring that is still hot, should this be replaced as found or is it fine to just leave it? It seems really old and brittle, so I'm a little concerned.
Tester101
  • 130,386
  • 77
  • 314
  • 605
31
votes
4 answers

Should all Federal Pacific panels be replaced?

I understand that Federal Panel Stab Lok breakers have the potential for becoming stuck, overheating, and starting fires. My home has a Federal Pacific panel but no outward markings of being a Stab Lok model, the breakers cannot be identified as I…
STW
  • 717
  • 4
  • 10
  • 20
20
votes
11 answers

My room lights' brightness pulses when I turn on my toaster oven

I have a house with old 2-prong wiring in most of my bedrooms. My toaster oven is plugged in on the kitchen countertop. Whenever I turn it on, the brightness of the lights in 3 (out of 4) of my bedrooms starts pulsing. I measured the voltage from…
breezymri
  • 309
  • 1
  • 2
  • 6
20
votes
6 answers

Does unblocking power bar outlets through short extension cords increase fire risk?

Power supply units are often large relative to the outlet and block access to adjacent outlets in a power bar. A simple solution is to use 1/2 ft or 1 ft (15cm, 30cm) power extension cords to keep all outlets in a power bar available. Yet my hunch…
Calaf
  • 1,205
  • 6
  • 25
  • 42
16
votes
3 answers

Is it normal for GFCI receptacles to explode and burn?

I noticed my tooth brush wasn't charging one morning and none of the plugs in my bathroom were getting power, I went down to the circuit box and saw a flipped breaker so I flipped it back and it immediately tripped again. I tried it once more with…
almarshall
  • 171
  • 1
  • 1
  • 5
11
votes
7 answers

Best practice for oily rag safety?

Most everyone's heard about piles of oily/greasy rags igniting. Linseed oil seems to be a popular culprit for it, but I've also recently heard claims of common automotive oil being involved. I've run across a couple recommendations, but I have no…
Brian Knoblauch
  • 1,087
  • 3
  • 15
  • 25
10
votes
2 answers

What caused a burn mark near my hot water pipes?

I was doing some household cleanup in the storage room where my heat tank is located when I noticed a burn mark on the wall frame near the pipe that goes from the heat tank to the shower next room. I'm of course not thinking that this is due to the…
Pierre-Alain Vigeant
  • 347
  • 3
  • 4
  • 10
10
votes
5 answers

Why are my wall plates bowing outward?

The wall plates in my kitchen suddenly bowed outward like this: Additionally, there seems to be condensation present on the back of each plate, suggesting that this was a thermal event of some kind. Considering that: This occurred overnight It…
jerj
  • 103
  • 1
  • 1
  • 6
10
votes
3 answers

Is this fluorescent light fixture a major electrical problem / fire hazard?

(I am a new homeowner.) I went to replace a some fluorescent tubes that looked like they burned out, but after disassembling it a little to get the tubes out, I saw something a little alarming: There was a black sticky substance on the inside cover…
anon
  • 587
  • 1
  • 7
  • 16
9
votes
3 answers

What fire hazard considerations are there when creating a cable hole between rooms?

Can't believe this hasn't been asked before, but I can't seem to find anything so... I've currently got a very light, very thin 32" TV mounted on the bedroom wall. It's perfect - except for the fact that I'd love to make it a bit more minimalist and…
Spedge
  • 267
  • 4
  • 8
8
votes
2 answers

Where do I find a good light fire extinguisher?

Just wondering if anyone has any advice/tips on a good small fire extinguisher to have at home? I'm not looking for something that's going to put out a blaze if half my house is on fire. Rather something that will safely put out something small and…
merk
  • 627
  • 3
  • 10
  • 21
7
votes
2 answers

Using fire retardant sealant for low-voltage cables through walls

I plan to wire my house with CAT6 cables, running inside the walls (drywall, wood). I would have to drill through the floor and probably through fire blocks in between the studs. Lot of guides advise to pull a string in addition to the cables, so…
Slav
  • 483
  • 1
  • 5
  • 16
7
votes
4 answers

What can I do about electric code violations in a rental unit?

My fiance and I are currently renting an apartment in Baltimore, MD and recently we have become alarmed by much of the house's wiring. Things we have seen included: countless wires that are spliced together outside of electrical boxes wires spliced…
PheobeMeow
  • 71
  • 1
  • 1
  • 2
7
votes
2 answers

Why aren't all houses equipped with fire sprinklers?

Fire sprinklers are common in office buildings but not so common in people's houses. How come? I'm thinking of adding such a system to my house but... I don't know... maybe there is a reason for why that is? Might not be a good idea? Too expensive?…
user982364
  • 71
  • 2
6
votes
2 answers

Does conduit terminated in backless gang boxes defeat the purpose of fireblocking?

My understanding for an ENT conduit (other than for future flexibility) was that it was fire-rated, to reduce the spread of fire/air-flow between floors. If the conduit went through fire-blocks or floors, holes would have to be sealed with…
Slav
  • 483
  • 1
  • 5
  • 16
1
2 3
…
8 9