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plug-in type room fresheners causes home fires

By
Services for Real Estate Pros Insurance NPN # 13379201

A Plug-in type room fresheners caused a home fires. Their house burnt down.. nothing left but ashes. The homeowners have good insurance so the house will be replaced and most of the contents. That is the good news. However, they were sick when they found out the cause of the fire.

The insurance investigator sifted through the ashes for several hours. He had the cause of the fire traced to the master bathroom. He asked her sister-in-law what she had plugged in the bathroom. She listed the normal things...curling iron, blow dryer.  He kept saying to her, 'No, this would be something that would disintegrate at high temperatures'.. Then her sister-in-law remembered she had a  plug in fragrance device , in the bathroom.

The investigator had one of those 'Aha' moments. He said that was the cause of the fire.

He said he has seen more house fires started with the plug-in type room fresheners than anything else. He said the plastic they are made from is THIN. He also said that in every case there was nothing left to prove that it even existed. When the investigator looked in the wall plug, the two prongs left from the plug-in were still in there.

Her sister-in-law had one of the plug-ins that had a small night light built in it. She said she had noticed that the light would dim and then finally go out. She would walk in to the bathroom a few hours later, and the light would be back on again.

The investigator said that the unit was getting too hot, and would dim and go out rather than just blow the light bulb. Once it cooled down it would come back on. That is a warning sign

The investigator said he personally wouldn't have any type of plug in fragrance device anywhere in his house. He has seen too many places that have been burned down due to them.

 

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Sammer Mudawar
RE/MAX Prestige - Anaheim Hills, CA
OC Real Estate Blog

I have heard of this but never really researched to see if it was true. I have these all over the office but now I am going to throw them all out.

Mar 19, 2013 07:48 AM
Trisha Bush-LeFore
Preferred Properties Land & Homes - Walla Walla, WA
Providing Realtor Services in the Walla Walla Area

I didn't know the potential danger associated with these products! Thanks for writing about this. I'll have to maybe switch or just keep a much better eye on them and let others know.

Mar 19, 2013 08:02 AM
Sonja Patterson
Keller Williams - BV - College Station, TX
Texas Monthly 5-Star Realtor Recipient for the Hou
Yikes! Better to be safe than sorry, I say. :) If you must use; use only when at home, having company over etc. Then unplug!!
Mar 19, 2013 08:44 AM
Frank Laisch
Orlando, FL
"The Insurance Guy"

Thank you all for the great comments. There could be many variables in these situations, like a power surge, faulty wiring or a bad outlet. as you know anything is possible.......

Mar 19, 2013 10:36 AM
Silvia Dukes PA, Broker Associate, CRS, CIPS, SRES
Tropic Shores Realty - Ich spreche Deutsch! - Spring Hill, FL
Florida Waterfront and Country Club Living
Frank, what a story and scary as well! It makes me wonder why these devices don't come with a warning label.
Mar 19, 2013 11:07 AM
Debbie Reynolds, C21 Platinum Properties
Platinum Properties- (931)771-9070 - Clarksville, TN
The Dedicated Clarksville TN Realtor-(931)320-6730

Frank, I have been hearing this and have wondered why aren't they outlawed? There are so many other choices.

Mar 19, 2013 01:16 PM
Pamela Seley
West Coast Realty Division - Murrieta, CA
Residential Real Estate Agent serving SW RivCo CA

Thanks to Christine #22 and Alan #24 that plugin air fresheners may not be as much of a fire hazard. Plugin air fresheners are popular with homeowners. My personal favorite, Yankee Candle brand makes terrific scents for the holidays. Perhaps plugging directly in to a GFCI outlet will minimize burning the house down.  Thanks for your post today,

Mar 19, 2013 03:10 PM
Barbara-Jo Roberts Berberi, MA, PSA, TRC - Greater Clearwater Florida Residential Real Estate Professional
Charles Rutenberg Realty - Clearwater, FL
Palm Harbor, Dunedin, Clearwater, Safety Harbor

wow, I had never heard of this one before but am certainly going to reblog it!!!

Mar 19, 2013 11:16 PM
Donald Hester
NCW Home Inspections, LLC - Wenatchee, WA
NCW Home Inspections, LLC

Frank, There maybe another issue with these that is not related to fire. Many of these air fresheners may not be that good for you.

http://home.howstuffworks.com/home-improvement/household-safety/tips/air-freshener-dangers.htm

Mar 20, 2013 01:07 AM
Rob Ernst
Certified Structure Inspector - Reno, NV
Reno, NV-775-410-4286 Inspector & Energy Auditor

I wonder if any of these have a UL or other rating on them? I know an electrician that talks about how many melted power strips he's seen.

Mar 20, 2013 04:01 AM
Toni Weidman
Sailwinds Realty - Trinity, FL
20+ Years Selling Homes in New Port Richey, FL

Scary, Frank. But great information.

Mar 20, 2013 09:56 PM
Barbara-Jo Roberts Berberi, MA, PSA, TRC - Greater Clearwater Florida Residential Real Estate Professional
Charles Rutenberg Realty - Clearwater, FL
Palm Harbor, Dunedin, Clearwater, Safety Harbor

I have already scared the hell out of a couple of people with this information. They promised to NEVER use plug-ins again!!!!!!!

Mar 20, 2013 10:28 PM
Kristin Hamilton CA REALTOR
Berkshire Hathaway California Realty - Beaumont, CA
(909) 557-6966- Specialize 55+ Communties Banning
Hi Frank, Whether the information is true or not, it makes sense and is enough to make me never use them again. I like to buy the pull up Glade Air Fresheners and they work great during open houses. Put two or three fruity one in the house and everyone walks in going "Umm it smells so good in here". I read some of the other comments and I used to buy the one that had the gel oil that you put in the sides and plugged in. Now I read where they were recalled. That is scary. I am just sticking to pull ups.
Mar 20, 2013 11:45 PM
John McCormack, CRS
Albuquerque Homes Realty - Albuquerque, NM
Honesty, Integrity, Results, Experienced. HIRE Me!

Good morning Frank -

Who knew that a plug-in type room fresheners caused a home fires.  I'm going to make sure my bride is fully aware of this fact.  She has them in our home and keeps a refill supply on hand at all times.  Makes the house smell good but not worth the risk!

Mar 21, 2013 12:08 AM
Michelle Gibson
Hansen Real Estate Group Inc. - Wellington, FL
REALTOR

Frank - I've heard this before and see them everyday when I show homes.

Mar 21, 2013 09:54 AM
Roger D. Mucci
Shaken...with a Twist 216.633.2092 - Euclid, OH
Lets shake things up at your home today!

Frank, I quit using them years ago for this very reason...............great post.

Mar 21, 2013 09:00 PM
Joni Bailey
101 Main St. Realty - Huntsville, TX
Your Huntsville / Lake Livingston Area REALTOR®

I use the Scentsy ones. Have you heard anything about them? Thanks for sharing this danger with us. 

Mar 21, 2013 09:03 PM
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

Frank, wow!  Who knew?  I don't like them because they usually smell worse than whatever they are supposed to cover up.

Mar 22, 2013 12:28 AM
Jon Zolsky, Daytona Beach, FL
Daytona Condo Realty, 386-405-4408 - Daytona Beach, FL
Buy Daytona condos for heavenly good prices

I with Patricia on this one. Had no idea that they can cause fire. Really, who in their sound mind would do it? Thanks for the tip

Mar 22, 2013 09:04 AM
Scott Fogleman
New Home Team - Richmond, VA

Frank- This is scary. i have a couple of these or should I say HAD...

Mar 27, 2013 09:39 PM