Electricals after a house fire?

Angelina-M

Evening all.
I'm looking for advice really, if anyone has a spare minute to reply. I have had a huge house fire, its taken out all my upstairs. The room it started in has completely gone, ceiling come down etc. But the smoke damage is huge in the other rooms. The heat must have been massive as the plastic time clock right down the hall melted!

Anyway, after eight weeks waiting, the insurance have decided they wont be paying out. I have employed a solicitor to see if there is anything I can do, I can't afford this but hey what's another couple of grand when I've just lost 65k We are also getting Chem Dry in to 'fog' the property and clean down the walls/tiles etc so at least we won't be stuck with that mammoth task.

So my problem is now that i've got to start cleaning my stuff up the best I can. I have a lot of electrical items including, Polti steam cleaner, dryer buddy, Kirby cleaner and quite a few electronic sewing machines. Will it be safe to try and clean any electricals myself?

I tried to clean the Dryer Buddy today but the plastic parts are all yellow where the smoke was and when I plugged it in it stank of smoke. I can live with the colour change but I'm worried about using electrical items. Any ideas?

Thanks for any help

Owain_Moneysaver

The electrical items would have to be stripped down, cleaned internally, reassembled and then safety tested. Cosmetically cleaning the outside won't be sufficient. Where the plastic has discoloured it may have been subject to high temperatures and become brittle; if it breaks it could expose live parts.

The costs involved in doing this probably make it uneconomic except for higher value / major appliances.

Angelina-M

Many thanks for that. I did really expect this to be the case but it was worth a try as I have so many items that are not going to be cost effective to professionally clean but I can't afford to replace.

I've spent all day trying in vain to save a few items but smoke damage is horrific.

Thanks again

Ruski

Just out of curiosity - why have your insurers denied the claim??

Russ

Angelina-M

Hmm I may as well give the truthful answer.

We lost our teenage daughter to cancer and my son couldn't cope anymore so he slit his wrists and set fire to his bedroom. He survived thank god and was sectioned under the mental health act the same day.

The insurance company say he started the fire deliberately. Compassionate insurance company eh?

DevCoder

Ouch.

You have my sympathy OP, for both your loss and what you must now be going through.

On your original point, you must now consider that all electricals that show any sign of damage must go through at least a PAT (portable appliance test) and even then the appliance may no longer conform to it's CE specifications.

Sorry to be so negative but I'd be considering a whole new start (if that to be honest), just make sure you and your family are the main focus, money is irrelevant (I know thats easy to say, but I know what it is like to lose someone suddenly).

Wish you all the best in your near future and hope that other electricians will advise accordingly.

Red_Cat

Dear OP, sorry to read about your loss and hope your son will recover in time.

Angelina-M

Thanks guys.

I was trying to see it all in a positive way, new start etc. But that was when I thought the insurance would be paying out. Now, faced with rebuilding with no money its a bit different. Its not just belongings that are lost, we need a structural engineer and all replastering etc.

I take on board what you say about the electricals and will chuck them away unless they are cost effective to replace. I'd only had the Polti about a month

But looking on the bright side, my son is now back with us in our rented house and is recovering.

DevCoder

Angelina-M wrote: »

Thanks guys.


I take on board what you say about the electricals and will chuck them away unless they are cost effective to replace. I'd only had the Polti about a month

By all means get an electrican to PAT the stuff you hope is ok, they should be able to give an assessment for at the very most £5 per item (and Id want it to be detailed at that cost!)

But looking on the bright side, my son is now back with us in our rented house and is recovering.

Thats great news, I really do wish you all the best, and hope things work out for you. Dont pressure your son into counselling (Im not saying you would, its just how I felt best to "move on"), sometimes they(we) come to our own means of seeking help. But by all means encourage third party bereavement counselling if your son shows a desire to get things out in the open. Your situation puts a lot of things in perspective.

Torry_Quine

I'm so sorry that this has happened to you. I really hope that things improve from here on.

Angelina-M

Krisdory none of us are into counselling, maybe we should be and we wouldn't be here.

Going through something like this will always be tough but losing our child was the toughest thing so its a case of what doesn't kill you makes you stronger.... if I say it enough times it may happen!