Burnt bathroom mirror light cover - any need to get electrician out re possible short circuit?

ChrisM78

I am probably being overly cautious but here goes...

The cleaner I use came round earlier this morning and sent me a message an hour later when I was out saying that smoke was suddenly coming out from the right hand cover for the bathroom mirror light, which they had on. It didn't make any sense to me, until they told me that they sprayed Viakal on the mirror and must have accidentally sprayed some on the mirror light which was on. 

I imagine at this point you're questioning the intelligence of a cleaner who has a light on hanging over a surface which they're spraying cleaning product on to, which they've clearly been doing every time they've been at my home. They panicked, took the cover off which was very hot (fancy that), took a photo of it (photo 1) and put it in water to cool down. See, it actually gets worse. 

There's still a pungent smell of burning in the bathroom (not emanating from the light directly) - all in all, the light bulb looks OK. but I'm wary of turning it on. Should I get an electrician to have a look just in case it's caused a short circuit? I know it's very unlikely, but thought I'd ask. 

Safe to say that's the last time that particular cleaner comes round, even though they've offered to pay for a new bulb/covers...

Heedtheadvice

I took from the pictures that it is a very low voltage bulb such as 12v but do not assume that. Find out first.

If it is it will probably be mains fed via a transformer. The lamp may well have it's operating voltage printed on it. Ensure it is switched off ( at a mains swich if appropriate ) and cold before handling

If you are not competent to find out, call in an electrician. 

Rules apply to various areas of a bathroom owing to increased risk of shocks in wet/damp areas.

WIAWSNB

ChrisM78 said:

I am probably being overly cautious but here goes...

The cleaner I use came round earlier this morning and sent me a message an hour later when I was out saying that smoke was suddenly coming out from the right hand cover for the bathroom mirror light, which they had on. It didn't make any sense to me, until they told me that they sprayed Viakal on the mirror and must have accidentally sprayed some on the mirror light which was on. 

I imagine at this point you're questioning the intelligence of a cleaner who has a light on hanging over a surface which they're spraying cleaning product on to, which they've clearly been doing every time they've been at my home. They panicked, took the cover off which was very hot (fancy that), took a photo of it (photo 1) and put it in water to cool down. See, it actually gets worse. 

There's still a pungent smell of burning in the bathroom (not emanating from the light directly) - all in all, the light bulb looks OK. but I'm wary of turning it on. Should I get an electrician to have a look just in case it's caused a short circuit? I know it's very unlikely, but thought I'd ask. 

Safe to say that's the last time that particular cleaner comes round, even though they've offered to pay for a new bulb/covers...

Almost certainly the actual light fitting itself is ok - it would have been pretty obvious if the actual bulb had received any Viakal - there would almost certainly be stains on it from the cleaner having dried off. 

How to check? Turn it on. :-)

These halogen bulbs become very hot indeed, so I suspect what you are seeing is simply the Viakal having been burned away, leaving a residue. Possibly, since I understand it's a mild acid, it might have etched the frosted glass surface too, but I don't know.

Yes, it was foolish of them, and double-yes to place the hot glass in water! But it appears to have survived, and it isn't the worst thing they could have done - if you are otherwise happy with them, perhaps another chance?

Anyhoo, nothing to lose by trying to clean up the glass by gently using, say, Jif and a scourer, see how well it comes up. Failing that, new shades.

I'd be tempted to replace these babies with LED equivalents if possible - far lower running temp. But they'd need to fit within the glass cylinder. 

FrugaiMacDugal

ChrisM78 said:
Safe to say that's the last time that particular cleaner comes round, even though they've offered to pay for a new bulb/covers...

That's a bit harsh.

If you've been happy enough with her work previously, then give her another chance, I'm sure she won't do it again.

Is she agency or private?

Oh, and if you can afford a cleaner then no need to charge for damage as cleaner probably only on minimum wage.

chrisw

Turn it in and see what happens, you can always turn it straight off again. But I'm struggling to see how spraying the mirror underneath has caused that sort of damage, even if they had poured the solution over the light fitting directly.

casper_gutman

I can't see how a little squirt of cleaning product could have permanently damaged the fitting in any way that would need the attentions of an electrician to check it. In fact I can't really see any damage, just a glass cover that needs cleaning. A bit of cream cleaner and a scouring pad will get that burnt residue off, then just refit the cover. I'm 95% confident it'll all work fine.

If it actually doesn't work then I'd ask the cleaner to contribute to the cost of installing a replacement light fitting ("contribute to" not "pay for" because I'd probably take the opportunity to replace it with an LED one and it wouldn't be fair to expect the cleaner to pay for an upgrade). 

ic

I wonder if they were dusty and the cleaner went to give it a quick wipe with the damp cloth - discovering it burned on fast?  It looks like you have original halogens which will run very hot, and be expensive. 

I agree with previous comments, it'd happen to the best of us and asking a minimum wage cleaner to pay for the repair before then firing them is pretty outrageous. 

You can afford a cleaner, so you can afford a new light fitting.  If you know better - do the cleaning yourself.

Albermarle

FrugaiMacDugal said:

ChrisM78 said:
Safe to say that's the last time that particular cleaner comes round, even though they've offered to pay for a new bulb/covers...

That's a bit harsh.

If you've been happy enough with her work previously, then give her another chance, I'm sure she won't do it again.

Is she agency or private?

Oh, and if you can afford a cleaner then no need to charge for damage as cleaner probably only on minimum wage.

I agree- plus good cleaners are not that easy to find. By sacking her and getting another one the OP might be cutting off their nose to spite their face.

ChrisM78

FrugaiMacDugal said:

ChrisM78 said:
Safe to say that's the last time that particular cleaner comes round, even though they've offered to pay for a new bulb/covers...

That's a bit harsh.

If you've been happy enough with her work previously, then give her another chance, I'm sure she won't do it again.

Is she agency or private?

Oh, and if you can afford a cleaner then no need to charge for damage as cleaner probably only on minimum wage.

Maybe I am being over the top. There's still one hell of a reek of fumes from the burning but that'll subside...

The light comes on so it does appear to just be shade damage. 

Ectophile

I see two O-rings on the light fitting, which will do a pretty good job of keeping water and cleaning chemicals out of the light fitting itself.

If it's still working OK, then it's unlikely that anything has entered the fitting.  Give the light shade a really good clean.  Leave it to dry completely. Then fit it again.

Eldi_Dos

@ChrisM78
Out of curiosity who supplied the Viakal and other cleaning materials, yourself or the cleaner?