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Oh, look! One of those nifty towel warmers!

By
Home Inspector with US Inspect

 

What's wrong with this picture??

 

Towel Bar Fire Hazard

ANSWER: Fire Safety Compromise

This bathroom towel rack has been installed over an active electrical wall heater creating a potentially serious situation.

Hundreds of lives, thousands of homes, and millions of dollars in damage are incurred annually from residential fires. Many of those fires began through no outward negligence on the homeowner's part, but rather a lack of safety awareness.

The heater in this picture will get quite hot and should never be in close proximity to combustible materials. The manufacturer most likely would agree and has published minimum clearances required. It's possible this unit is manually controlled and the owner wouldn't think of leaving it running when he's not in the room. However, if the owner is like many of us, it probably makes more sense to err on the side of caution and reinstall the towel rack on another wall.

Posted By: U.S. Inspect Blog

Kerrie La Guardia
ActiveRain, Community Manager - Kirkland, WA
Let it Rain!

Oh my goodness....that's just so obviously a fire hazard!  Wrong, wrong, wrong!

Apr 29, 2011 08:31 AM
Jeremy Wrenn
Winslow Homes - Youngsville, NC
VP of Finance, Winslow Homes

Maybe it should be called a towel toaster.  Hope it's not set to 10.

Apr 29, 2011 09:04 AM
Steve Loynd
Alpine Lakes Real Estate Inc., - Lincoln, NH
800-926-5653, White Mountains NH

Chrissy, I don't believe the manufacturer envisioned the Carpet being that close to the heat source either...this is a case of what were they thinking?

Apr 29, 2011 09:04 AM
Steven Cook
No Longer Processing Mortgages. - Tacoma, WA

Installing towel rack on another wall would work great -- assuming there is another wall with enough space, that isn't too far from where it is needed.

Apr 29, 2011 09:24 AM
Robin Dampier REALTOR®
Coldwell Banker King - Hendersonville, NC
Hendersonville & Western NC Real Estate Source

Seriously dangerous -- the towel rack as well as Steve said, the carpet!  What was the installer thinking!

Sue of Robin and Sue

Apr 29, 2011 09:28 AM
Dawn Crawley
Dawn Crawley Realty - Pinehurst, NC
Find Pinehurst Homes

Got the answer to that question right away. A disaster waiting to happen.

Apr 29, 2011 09:46 AM
Richard Weisser
Richard Weisser Realty - Newnan, GA
Richard Weisser Retired Real Estate Professional

Chrissy...

This is a frightening scenario, as many Americans die in fires every year.

Apr 29, 2011 11:24 AM
Ellen Caruso
Daniel Gale Sotheby's International Realty - Glen Head, NY

Chrissy , I love your What's wrong images....this ones a no brainer! Who could be so....!

Hope your feeling well....any day now another precious life!

Apr 29, 2011 11:32 AM
William Feela
WHISPERING PINES REALTY - North Branch, MN
Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.

OK, you got me What is wrong.   I guess it could have been an open flame!

Apr 29, 2011 11:33 AM
Myrl Jeffcoat
Sacramento, CA
Greater Sacramento Realtor - Retired

Chrissy - That's scene makes me shudder.  I have a cousin, who had her night gown catch fire on a similar device.  She was injured very badly from it.

Apr 29, 2011 12:21 PM
Chris Smith
Re/Max Chay Realty Inc., Brokerage - New Tecumseth, ON
South Simcoe, Caledon, King, Orangeville Real Esta

Chrissy, It is amazing how many of these types of scenarios we run into on a daily basis...

Apr 29, 2011 12:24 PM
Jim Patton
Aspire Home Real Estate 209-404-0816 - Modesto, CA
Realtor - Stanislaus ,Merced, San Joaquin Counties

A towel warmer no doubt.  It could possibly warm up the entire bathroom too, not in a good way though.

Apr 29, 2011 01:54 PM
Ted Tyrrell
RE/MAXCamosun (Chatterton) - Victoria, BC
Selling Homes in Beautiful Victoria

We see all kinds of crazy things inside (and outside) of houses that just shouldn't be. Go figure!

Apr 30, 2011 07:19 AM