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View Full Version : Strange burning smell in bathroom and power off


julieweber
May 8, 2012, 12:31 PM
There is a burning plastic smell in our bathroom for the last couple days. We turned the power off but still have the smell. Any ideas. Worried it is dangerous.

tkrussell
May 8, 2012, 12:55 PM
Not knowing how you shut off power to what, it is difficult to say what the problem is. Could be there is power still onto a receptacle, and that receptacle has a loose connection inside the box serving another receptacle that is live and has a load.

A loose connection such as this would create heat, and begin melting the plastic of the receptacle or switch.

Alli can offer, in the effort of caution and safety, is to call in an electrician to check all electrical devices in the area of the odor.

Using the back of your hand, feel the faceplates of switches and receptacles to check for heat.