If I hadn't stopped to turn the lights off...

[LovebirdsFlying]

Scary thought.

We're having some wiring problems, apparently, with the light switch just inside the front door. I thought it had been fixed. It hadn't.

Today I've got a chest cold going on. I was reluctant to take medicine for it, because that tends to knock me out for several hours, or else the daytime stuff does uncomfortable things to my pulse and blood pressure. But, around 7:30 PM, I couldn't stand it anymore, took a nighttime cold medicine, and went to turn the living room light off and go to bed. Hubby works evening to late night hours; I was alone.

I flipped the switch off. Nothing. The lights stayed on. Switch on, switch off, still the lights are on. And the switch plate is hot to the touch.

I called the fire department and was told there may be a fire starting within the walls. I should turn off the main circuit breaker and get out. The fire department arrived. The switch plate was cooling off, but when the main circuit breaker came back on, it heated right back up again. Fast. So did the wall around it.

Our only option now is to leave off the circuit connected to that light switch, until we can get an electrician to fix it. We're without power to half of the house, but safe as long as the breaker is off. Otherwise...

What freaks me is that if I had gone to bed without turning off the living room light, and doped up on cold medicine... Eek.

 

[John S]

Good for you. It was also smart to call the fire department.

 

[TheManeki]

I'm so glad you're all right! How long until you can get this fixed?

 

[LovebirdsFlying]

The electrician was here the following day, and ended up replacing the entire light switch. Some copper wiring had shaken loose. (Traffic? The washer and dryer making the house shake? A minor earthquake we had up here about a month ago? We don't know.) Anyway, with the wiring shaking loose and not connected properly, it got hot and melted its coating. There was melted substance on the switch itself too.

No problems since then. Thanks for asking.

 

[Merlin Athrawes]

I'm glad you're okay too. That was scary to hear about.

 

[CRAZY_CAT_WOMAN]

So glad your okay.

 

[Liberal Angel]

pretty scary though!

 

[plmarquette]

Matthew 6.33 .....

He is on the job.....24-7-365

 

[nathanlandon1]

Scary thought.

We're having some wiring problems, apparently, with the light switch just inside the front door. I thought it had been fixed. It hadn't.

Today I've got a chest cold going on. I was reluctant to take medicine for it, because that tends to knock me out for several hours, or else the daytime stuff does uncomfortable things to my pulse and blood pressure. But, around 7:30 PM, I couldn't stand it anymore, took a nighttime cold medicine, and went to turn the living room light off and go to bed. Hubby works evening to late night hours; I was alone.

I flipped the switch off. Nothing. The lights stayed on. Switch on, switch off, still the lights are on. And the switch plate is hot to the touch.

I called the fire department and was told there may be a fire starting within the walls. I should turn off the main circuit breaker and get out. The fire department arrived. The switch plate was cooling off, but when the main circuit breaker came back on, it heated right back up again. Fast. So did the wall around it.

Our only option now is to leave off the circuit connected to that light switch, until we can get an electrician to fix it. We're without power to half of the house, but safe as long as the breaker is off. Otherwise...

What freaks me is that if I had gone to bed without turning off the living room light, and doped up on cold medicine... Eek.

God takes care of His own. Very fortunate you are indeed.

 

[ToddMyers]

You did the right thing calling for help right away. Glad everything worked out.