Fuck. I smell something electrical burning.

We live in a ridiculously old, falling-apart mobile home and the wiring is really old and shitty. We've had outlets burn out several times, and we have to be careful about how much we plug in at one time. Anyway, right now the whole kitchen smells like that ozone-ish smell that comes from something electrical that's burning/melting/etc. No smoke. I unplugged EVERYTHING out here except for the fridge, plus all of the other space heaters in the house just in case, but the smell didn't go away.

I just unplugged the fridge, too, after consulting with my stepfather, who thinks that very well might be the problem. We've had problems with our fridge before, where the plug basically shorted out. We couldn't afford to buy a new fridge at the time, so we paid to have the plug replaced instead. I think it just went again--or at least I hope. I'd rather it be that than something in the damned walls burning/smoldering.

Since I see no smoke, hear no sizzling/popping/crackling, and feel no heat, I'm holding off on calling the fire dept. until we see if it is indeed just the fridge. I could pull the plug out of the wall with the access-string we have attached to it, but I can't get to it to examine it until ThinkBlue gets home. She's on her way right now, walking home early from work.

I am freaked. the. fuck. out. We get our student aid money tomorrow, so we can replace the fridge, but if it turns out to be a problem with the wiring inside the walls, well, it's going to kill us financially to have to move, and getting it repaired would be pointless---this whole place isn't worth $2000, and it would cost at least that much if not more. Our textbooks ALONE for this semester are about $1000 counting sales tax.

Please send good, safe, cool, fireless vibes. I'm scared sick and shaking. I have OktoberKid pre-bundled into his winter coat and shoes, just in case I need to send him running to the neighbor's house on short notice.

:scared:

Check your PM.

:hug:

:hug:

to ignore are burning smells, dripping noises, and funny looking freckles...

Good luck - I hope it's nothing!

and just set up wiring inside the trailer, like through some conduits? It'd be a temporary fix until you can move, but at least then you'd know you had safe wiring.

I hope a good and safe solution turns up soon for y'all :hug:

ThinkBlue is home--we just checked the plug, but it looks normal, so we're thinking that this time, it might be the fridge *itself* that's shorted out or died. We just plugged everything else (except for the fridge) back in, to see if the smell comes back. If it does, we'll go from there. If it doesn't, then we'll know that it really is just a dead fridge.

It wouldn't surprise me. The thing has to be twenty years old.

Thanks all.

:grouphug:

be safe.

:hug:

Not the plug this time, but something in the fridge itself burned out. It's currently unplugged and emptied-out, after DU'ers leftyclimber and Betaben came to the rescue with extra coolers and three bags of ice. We'll get another fridge at some point either this weekend or early next week, depending on when we can get our student aid checks deposited.

In the meantime, if anybody has any good recommendations for refrigerators, feel free to drop us a line, either here or PM.

Goodnight all, and thanks so much for your thoughts. :grouphug: