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Ouch, That's Hot...

By
Home Inspector with Complete Home Inspections, Inc. TN Lic#050

As appliances age, it is not unusual for the male terminals to work loose from the molded plugs, and occasionally when they fail, the prongs become embedded in the outlet. Judging by the burn marks on the end of the terminal, it looks as if this appliance had gotten the terminals quite hot from time to time. But what is even hotter is the now bare prong that is left in the "hot" side of the outlet. As this is in a bathroom with metal faucets and connection lines, can we say that overall, this could be a real eye-opener and an electrifying situation should a person brush the terminal and be touching the faucet. No! Thankfully it is in a working GFCI outlet.

What I can't understand, is why the home owner left the outlet in this condition... I guess that I'll have to send Bubba over there to remedy the situation. He just got a new battery powered screw driver that he is just dying to play with...

Join my birthday alarm. It is fast painless and the best part of all, you will be helping me out.

This post is included in one of AR's newest groups Blogs Happen... . We are a friendly lot of misfits. Check us out and join the group. You will be glad you did...

Michael

Copyright © 2008 by Michael Thornton of Complete Home Inspections, Inc., All Rights Reserved.

Posted by

Complete Home Inspections, Brentwood TN 615.661.0297
 

Comments(8)

Bo Hussung
Bell Title /Triserv LLC - Nashvle, TN

Go bubba.....

Bo

Sep 27, 2008 01:22 AM
Charles Buell
Charles Buell Inspections Inc. - Seattle, WA
Seattle Home Inspector

We all know that GFCI's protect us against shocks of this kind but do you know of anyone that has "actually" tested the idea? :) 

Sep 27, 2008 01:46 AM
Steven L. Smith
King of the House Home Inspection, Inc. - Bellingham, WA
Bellingham WA Home Inspector

It takes all kinds. Amazing someone did not remove that before this.

Sep 27, 2008 03:31 AM
Sidney Kutchuk - Realty Works Temecula Kutchuk - Realty Works Temecula
Realty Works Temecula - Temecula, CA
Realty Works Temecula

Just seeing that picture is shocking.  I remember putting all of those protective plastic plugs in all of my unused outlets when my boys were little!

Sep 27, 2008 03:37 AM
Mike (Inspector Mike) Parks
Inspector Mike - Circleville, OH
Inspector Mike

And they wonder why we recommend GFCI protection!

Sep 27, 2008 05:12 AM
Sean Allen
International Financing Solutions - Fort Myers, FL
International Financing Solutions

HHHmmm, that is odd. I too wonder why the home owner never removed it? I guess we shall never know.

Sean Allen

Sep 27, 2008 09:05 AM
Harold "Hal" Place
A1 Connection Realty, Inc. - Sun City Center, FL

Hi Michael,

I do hope the GFI was doing its intended work! Did you test it and even more important, did you remove the prong?

Sep 27, 2008 09:49 AM
Jacques Mountain
Dream Home Inspections/203K Consultant - Fayetteville, GA
Inspector/203K Consultant

I usually remove them if I see them in an outlet, just in case some one else comes along and does not notice it.

Oct 01, 2008 02:24 PM