Source
r/CasualConversation•
Condus

My house could have burned down last night

So I'm sitting there watching tv with the gf last night and all of the sudden we hear a loud "POP" and look over and see our outlet smoking. The breaker flipped thankfully so no actual fire but what a terrible experience. Maintenance for my building is coming today to fix it.

The cause? Everything in our 1 bedroom apartment except for the kitchen is on 1 breaker. Bathroom, bedroom, livingroom, dining area... All the same breaker.

I'm going out today to buy a good fire extinguisher.

Posted Jul 18, 2019, 12:15 PM UTC

219
Acer018•

You should have renters insurance for your stuff.

3
CondusOPCanadian•

I know about renters insurance and stuff, don't worry, just the fact of how much worse this could have been has really opened my eyes. I have 3 cats that hide as soon as the alarm goes off, so if I can stop the fire that's best

1
[deleted]•

Fire extinguishers aren't actually for putting fires out though. They're so you can cut a path through the fire if it happens to be between you and safety. Dont ever use one to fight a fire. Get out as fast as you can.

2
CondusOPCanadian•

That's fair, I should still have one though, kinda crazy that I dont

1
[deleted]•

Most apartment where I live are only required to put them at the main doors to stairwells and main entry/exit doors. I actually installed my own near the kitchen front door just in case.

2
UsernameCensored•

The lights should be on their own circuit.

2
CondusOPCanadian•

Only the kitchen is, everything else is not. The building was built in the 70s so it was legal then

1
Acer018•

The problem could be that you may not be home if a fire breaks out.

2
CondusOPCanadian•

Exactly, that's what I want to emphasize to the electrician coming today. This can't happen again

1
[deleted]•

Electrician can only do what hes payed to do. Your better off bugging the owner and if they wont do anything then the housing authority where you live and if they cant do anything then its time to move.

2
CondusOPCanadian•

I'm only here for 4.5 more months before I'm moving, but thanks for the info I'll look into it

1
[deleted]•

Where the hell do you live?! This is against so many building codes it's not even funny? When was your place built? Is it like a house converted into efficiencies or something?

2
CondusOPCanadian•

I live in Ontario, the wiring was done in the 70s or so when it was legal, and they are only Renevating, not redoing the whole thing. It's some loophole in the laws

1
[deleted]•

Its just crazy to me that the grandfather code allows them to be cheap and dangerous like that. I live in a building that's only 20 years old and I've got breakers for every room. The furnace has it's own plus one right next to it. Washer/dryer has it's own. Stove has it's own. Fridge has it's own. Everything on one breaker though technically legal is just asking for trouble.

2
CondusOPCanadian•

Grandfather code should not exist, they are putting tenants at risk to make a few extra bucks

1
[deleted]•

And when their crap burns down they lose the building and their tenants lives and insurance has to flit the bill. So glad you're moving.

2
fozirA big lizard.•

One of my worst fears tbf, I’m less afraid of regular ol’ fire than I am of electrical fire. Anything electrical just scares the ever living shit out of me tbh.

2
CondusOPCanadian•

Honestly same, I'm so scared because it happened once it can easily happen again

2