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Big Mac · Oct 19, 2005, 03:01 AM

I just had a bit of a smokey situation in the kitchen. I put something in the microwave for three minutes, looked up a bit thereafter and suddenly saw the room filling with smoke.

I moved hurriedly to the microwave and took out the now severely charred item and disposed of it in the trash barrel outside. I then went back in and attempted to air out the kitchen, opening the back door and all the windows. Even with a relatively small amount of smoke, it was somewhat difficult to see and breathe, in addition to stinging my eyes. A fire must literally be hell on earth. After a half hour it was pretty sufficiently aired out, although the odor could be faintly detected. Worse, I can still smell it on my hands and skin. Now the main thing I'm concerned about is any potential smoke damage to electrical equipment such as the TV and DVD players. I just read that the primary danger in smoke damage comes from smoke that has corrosive chemical elements; I doubt this smoke did. How concerned should I be?

Ω · Oct 19, 2005, 03:25 AM

Originally Posted by Big Mac

How concerned should I be?

About this much.

Big Mac · Oct 19, 2005, 03:31 AM

thank you

Ω · Oct 19, 2005, 03:42 AM

Originally Posted by Big Mac

thank you

But hey, what do I know?

My guess is that nothing in the microwave was anywhere near being corrosive. You just nuked the fsck out of it.

Now you are sure it was the contents and not the microwave itself?

Ratm · Oct 19, 2005, 03:44 AM

I just read that the primary danger in smoke damage comes from smoke that has corrosive chemical elements.

Corrosive chemical elements and you're worried about a DVD player and T.V. set.

Nah, I wouldn't be too worried. But if you start coughing up blood in a couple hours, I think you should take the T.V. and DVD player to a repair shop ASAP.

Randman · Oct 19, 2005, 04:01 AM

I'd check the smoke alarm batteries if it produced that much smoke and nothing happened. In my kitchen, even a little extra smoke sets the thing off.

Big Mac · Oct 19, 2005, 04:18 AM

Originally Posted by Randman

I'd check the smoke alarm batteries if it produced that much smoke and nothing happened. In my kitchen, even a little extra smoke sets the thing off.

Yeah, some smoke alarms are definitely on my list now. . .

Face Ache · Oct 19, 2005, 04:35 AM

My smoke alarm woke me early one morning. Opened the bedroom door to a wall of smoke, which looked like a second door - one of the weirdest things I've seen.

Someone had set fire to a car under our apartment and the smoke rose up the wall and curled under the eaves, right into our open windows.

We got out (and got everyone else out) but it trashed our new carpet and the apartment smelled like burnt car for a few weeks. Our car also got melted along one side, as it was parked next to the torched car.

Railroader · Oct 19, 2005, 04:35 AM

I have a nice little discount on my house insurance for having smoke alarms and fire extinguishers around the house. Well worth the small investment. I also have a fire hydrant abour 5 feet from my property that helps. And the fire dept. is about 1/4 mile away. Can't be too safe.

Face Ache · Oct 19, 2005, 04:39 AM

Originally Posted by Railroader

I have a nice little discount on my house insurance for having smoke alarms and fire extinguishers around the house. Well worth the small investment.

Yup. First things I put into a new house are burglar and smoke alarms.

Railroader · Oct 19, 2005, 04:47 AM

Originally Posted by Face Ache

Yup. First things I put into a new house are burglar and smoke alarms.

Where translation of the Bible does your sig line come from? The NIV states Leviticus 19:27 " 'Do not cut the hair at the sides of your head or clip off the edges of your beard."

EDIT: NM, I looked it up. KJV.