The fuses.

My landlord said that it's perfectly normal for the fuse to create a spark when I screw it in because I'm making a connection. It has NEVER done this before. My landlord said that I'm screwing the fuse in too slow, which is why I'm seeing them. Then he screwed it in at the same speed I do. He refused to listen until I told him about how it smelled from about four feet away. Then he said he'd call an electrician and quickly decided it was the water heater.

I know it is not. But I wanted to see if his claim of sparking being "normal" was valid. I'm pretty sure it's not, but who knows. I could be wrong.

Just in case, I put a smoke detector on the wall above the fuse box, since we have a fuel oil tank in the basement as well, about 20 feet away from the box. I'd rather not go up in smoke because of my landlord's ignorance.

Thanks!

Sounds like the fuses are blowing three times a week because of a defect in the actual fusehlder in the panel, proablaby caused by a loose or overheated connection in the panel.

Sure a fuse can spark a bitas you screw in the fuse, if there is a load connected, but this spark may be noticeable, but small. Screwing in faster will help minimze the spark.

But your key problem is the fuses blowing three times a week, and the smell you are getting seems to draw attention to the panel. The loose connection can be causing heat, which is migrating into the fuse and burning them out prematurely. And the smell you have may be bakelite plastic guts of the panel heating and burning.

I think the inside of the panel should be looked at for the reason the fuses are blowing.

Thank you very much! I learned how to turn off the circuit so now I can install the fuse w/o it sparking. Otherwise, I will continue to bug my landlord to get an electrician out here.

Is it a fire hazard? I was told it was.

Not so much a fire hazard, thou if there is a loose connection and the plastic is burning the plastic is melting, and there may be a serious short circuit. This is not getting better on it's own

Thank you so much, TK! I was able to reiterate your sentiments to my landlord, who ordered a new hot water heater instead, and I now have an electrician coming in the morning to replace the box entirely. Give it an upgrade to modern, switchy-kind fuses. Haha! I know; my knowledge of electrician jargon is so staggeringly accurate that it's overwhelming. :D

Thanks again for your help! And I get a new water heater to boot!

Ha ha... switchy-kind fuses now that's a new one.

I love it when you talk technical!!

At least you got the point across and the repairs will be made no matter how you say it.

Good luck and let us know how you make out.

Haha! I do what I can. Thanks! I will definitely let y'all know how it goes. I'm very excited to get the switchy-kind... now I don't have to go buy fuses all the time!