Hot Midnight Wiring Action
Around 12:30 we were getting ready for bed and I went to flip the light switch.
This should be a simple action that requires no thought and minimal use of finger muscles. It did not. I had to push very hard to make it turn off, and then harder still to turn it back on and call Mike’s attention to our broken light switch.
He turned it on and off and agreed that our switch was broken. Then we went to bed.
We discussed the broken light switch in the dark. It loomed there in the dark. FIRE HAZARD mere feet from our heads. We confirmed we had a fire extinguisher in the room, but were unsure of the presence of a smoke alarm upstairs. I pointed out we had one unopened paddle switch in the room.
Rather than wait til daylight, Mike went to retrieve a screwdriver and a flashlight. Mike did all the hard work while I stood there with the flashlight.
Soon, it was done and we were safely able to go to sleep after re-setting our clocks and alarms.
Now, of course, the paranoia is setting in. We have replaced a few light switches already, but it seems we probably have about 5 or 6 more to replace to avoid anymore late-night paranoia induced re-wiring.
How old is your house?
I picture a 100 year old house when you talk about the fire hazard of bad switches!
The jackholes that I bought my house from TOOK the smoke detectors with them!!! That’s totally illegal (by the way) and just plain bad form. It took me a while to remember that at inspection there had been a fabulous carbon monoxide detector at the top of my stairs and then also to realize there were now NONE.
I think I’m back up to code these days!
This Not So Old House
Our house is about 55 years old. The wiring is in good shape, it’s the switches that need to be replaced.
Oy!
With the houses, if it’s not one thing it’s another! Good luck….