I live in a middle unit townhouse. Last night we got home and the place smelled real strongly of burn plastic or something electrical burning. Me and the Mrs. unplugged everything and left a window open. The smell was only in the living room/kitchen on the first floor. The smell is still there today but a little weaker (Probably b/c the windows were open). Anyways we have an electrician coming because we cannot locate the source of the burning. The neighbors did not have any issues and the units are fireblocked so we cannot hear or smell the neighbors. We did have a new sprinkler system put in last week and wonder if that may be causing something to act up.

Anyone have a similar problem?

You're sure it's not an appliance? Do you have anthing daisy-chained with extension cords or powerstrips?

If not, the logical conclusion is a slow leak in the sprinkler system which is shorting out the household wiring, perhaps not enough to trip the breaker.

burnt plastic on the dishwasher heat coil?

What he said -- check the dishwasher. Pull the bottom rack out and check closely.







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Good call. I was wondering if all circuit breakers or in, or if any appliances are acting funny ( or smell). Check the stove and dryer(lint).
Follow your nose.

Check anything with an electic motor that could have been jammed while on. Blender, dishwasher, washer, dryer, any other electric appliance.

Have an electrician come out and check everything. May also consider calling your local fire dept on the non-emergency number to see if they have any suggestions, or if they'll send someone out to check for common issues.

Mice might also be chewing wires. My parents had a minor fire under their dishwasher thanks to that.

Probably should have called the fire department.

The electrician came and isolated the smell and pulled the breaker for that area. Aired the house out. Reset the breaker and the smell came back. It was a hanging light fixture. Turns out that up inside the thing it had shorted out and was melting the plastic in the fixture. It was in the stairwell with a high vaulted ceiling so I could have never reached it without a big ladder. He just pulled down the fixture and made sure all was well inside. Thank God the landlord is paying for it.

Whew -- close call.


Glad you got it fixed.






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