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Across the Fence:  Our near miss with disaster tonight  |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
 Posted - Jul 30 2007 : 02:24:46 AM
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Why am I awake at 2:20 in the morning?
I was asleep- actually pretty deeply too! I woke up smelling something weird. As I was trying to wake up enought to figure out what was going on, I heard the motor on our swamp cooler surging. It was almost dying then surging, etc. Just as I realized the weird smell was burning electrics- I see a mini ball of fire come down the shute that directs the air. The whole front of the machine was orange- So I jump out of bed and turn the machine off. Luckily I did not have to use the fire extinqisher. Yikes!
Good thing it was in the bedroom- not the office where it used to be!
It is now unplugged and I have to figure out if it is safe enough to attempt a repair a some point.
Ciao!
Alee
The amazing one handed typist! One hand for typing, one hand to hold Nora! |
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Nance in France
True Blue Farmgirl
1438 Posts
Nancy
St. Laurent de la Salanque
France
1438 Posts |
Posted - Jul 30 2007 : 02:27:25 AM
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| Good golly! Bet it took a while to fall back to sleep. Glad no one was hurt and everything is ok (except the pump)! Nance |
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Annab
True Blue Farmgirl
2900 Posts
Anna
Seagrove
NC
USA
2900 Posts |
Posted - Jul 30 2007 : 03:26:06 AM
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I"d junk it and buy a new one!
That was close!!! |
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Runbikegrrl
True Blue Farmgirl
250 Posts
MaryAnn
Waterbury Ctr
VT
USA
250 Posts |
Posted - Jul 30 2007 : 03:31:57 AM
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Wow, Alee glad you caught it in time! I have had two electrical things like that happen one with a dryer and another with a sump pump...scary isn't it!
"So many interests so little time!"
http://lovelifelivegrrl.blogspot.com/ |
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UrbanChick
True Blue Farmgirl
331 Posts
Ayako
Atlanta
GA
USA
331 Posts |
Posted - Jul 30 2007 : 04:46:51 AM
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That sounds so scary. I'm glad you were able to extinguish the fire without getting hurt.
"Courage dosen't always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying: I will try again tomorrow." |
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jpbluesky
True Blue Farmgirl
6066 Posts
Jeannie
Florida
USA
6066 Posts |
Posted - Jul 30 2007 : 04:56:48 AM
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So glad everything is okay! Thank God! What is a swamp cooler? You would think, living in Florida near swamps I would know, but I don't.
Psalm 51: 10-13 |
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Nancy Gartenman
True Blue Farmgirl
9093 Posts
Nancy
West Seneca
New York
USA
9093 Posts |
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mom2knk
True Blue Farmgirl
321 Posts
Blanche
So Cal
321 Posts |
Posted - Jul 30 2007 : 05:59:54 AM
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| How scary! I am glad you are all ok!! |
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Miss Bee Haven
True Blue Farmgirl
4331 Posts
Janice
Louisville/Irvington
Kentucky
USA
4331 Posts |
Posted - Jul 30 2007 : 06:08:38 AM
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I don't know what a swamp cooler is, either. But I'm sure glad you have a strong sense of smell, Alee. I think Anna's suggestion about junking it is what I would do.
"If you think you've got it nailed down, then what's all that around it?" - 'Brother Dave' Gardner |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
Posted - Jul 30 2007 : 06:33:31 AM
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A swamp cooler is also known as an evaporation cooler. They work best in dry climates. A pump drenches a grass or synthetic mat in the back of the cooler and a fan pulls air through this mat. The air picks up moisture which makes it feel really cold. Scientifically speaking it takes the heat energy from the air and uses it for evaporation which then leaves the air with less heat energy so there for cooler.
But you have to have really dry air for it to help.
Alee
The amazing one handed typist! One hand for typing, one hand to hold Nora! |
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Ronna
True Blue Farmgirl
1891 Posts
Ronna
Fernley
NV
USA
1891 Posts |
Posted - Jul 30 2007 : 06:57:34 AM
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Yikes, got your attention, didn't it? So glad you woke up before it got worse. Any threat of fire is so scary.
Ronna |
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Firemama
True Blue Farmgirl
1731 Posts
Amanda
Medical Lake
WA
USA
1731 Posts |
Posted - Jul 30 2007 : 08:48:22 AM
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Alee, I am so glad you are all okay. Thank God!
Mommy to 2
Your FreckleFaced Farm Girl!!
Help when you can, Pray when you can't. |
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Huckelberrywine
True Blue Farmgirl
1607 Posts
Michelle
Rosalia
1607 Posts |
Posted - Jul 30 2007 : 09:25:06 AM
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Why on earth did we ever call that a swamp cooler? Should be a desert cooler. Wouldn't work very well in a swamp, would it? :) So very glad you have such keen senses. Whew!
We make a difference. |
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Maryjane Lee
True Blue Farmgirl
2195 Posts
Maryjane
CA
USA
2195 Posts |
Posted - Jul 30 2007 : 10:14:24 AM
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Oh, my Alee  ! So glad you are all safe and you have a good sniffer! You are being watched over.
Hugs,
Maryjane Lee
The Beehive Cottage~
est. 1971 |
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queenofdreamsz4u
True Blue Farmgirl
3845 Posts
Stephanie Suzanne
Smoky Mountains Tennessee
USA
3845 Posts |
Posted - Jul 30 2007 : 10:48:28 AM
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Hey Alee,
I'm sooo glad it was nearby and woke you up!! That is what happened to me in june...had just got in bed and gone to sleep and a very faint sound (I thought) had woke me up and then that electrical smell..I called the fire department because I thought my AC unit was on fire under the house..
It wasn't on fire when they got here but had shorted out and "arched" inside the metal box and burnt all the wiring. So a whole new unit had to be put in...no repairing it since it was 10 years old.
Hope you can get another one or get that one repaired.
...til next time ~ queenofdreamsz
www.dreamkingdomdesigns.com/apronpocketswap.html
www.dreamkingdomdesigns.blogspot.com
"hold close your inner child and always listen to the gentle whispers" ~queenofdreamsz
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mikesgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
3659 Posts
Sherri
Elma
WA
USA
3659 Posts |
Posted - Jul 30 2007 : 10:54:12 AM
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| So happy you and the fam are ok. |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
Posted - Jul 30 2007 : 12:17:23 PM
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I think I am going to toss it like many of you suggested. I am going to cut the cord off since so many people around here dumster dive. I would feel horrible if someone took it home an it caught a house on fire!
Alee
The amazing one handed typist! One hand for typing, one hand to hold Nora! |
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Aunt Jenny
True Blue Farmgirl
11381 Posts
Jenny
middle of
Utah
USA
11381 Posts |
Posted - Jul 30 2007 : 12:21:25 PM
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Oh my..how scary!! Lots of people here use swamp coolers...I didn't know what they were until 5 years ago either..never had lived in a dry climate before this!
My husband keeps wanting to get one. We just have a very small window AC unit in the family room and fans in the other rooms. I am good with just that...but he gets frantic when he gets too hot (he is a little hyper)
I think cutting off the cord is a great idea!! I am so thankful you are all 3 okay!!
Jenny in Utah
Inside me there is a skinny woman crying to get out...but I can usually shut her up with cookies
http://www.auntjennysworld.blogspot.com/ visit my little online shop at www.auntjenny.etsy.com |
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Carol Sue
True Blue Farmgirl
4033 Posts
Carol Sue
Washingtonian
USA
4033 Posts |
Posted - Jul 30 2007 : 4:19:41 PM
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Yes, Alee, cut the cord and then throw that puppy away.
I am so very very very glad you are ok and Miss Nora and dhtobe.
Wow girl!!!!!
Enjoying life. |
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jpbluesky
True Blue Farmgirl
6066 Posts
Jeannie
Florida
USA
6066 Posts |
Posted - Jul 30 2007 : 4:55:26 PM
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Around these parts, people actually throw old stuff INTO the swamp! But that is not very cool at all...... :)
Psalm 51: 10-13 |
Edited by - jpbluesky on Jul 30 2007 4:56:38 PM |
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Cheryl
True Blue Farmgirl
919 Posts
Cheryl
Magalia
CA
USA
919 Posts |
Posted - Jul 30 2007 : 6:36:36 PM
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Alee, I am so glad everyone is ok. I have to agree that you need to get a new one.
Cheryl :) |
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Mumof3
True Blue Farmgirl
3890 Posts
Karin
Ellenwood
GA
USA
3890 Posts |
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Across the Fence: Our near miss with disaster tonight |
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Our near miss with disaster tonight
