Why does my electric heater smell like fish?
The most likely cause is an electrical fault, such a short circuit or overload in the electric heater. The electrical outlet may also be a cause of the problem.
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The fishy smell comes from the melting of electrical components inside the heater or outlet. This melting produces an ammonia-like odor which smells like fish.
As there is the potential for fire, it’s important to take this very seriously and take immediate precautions if there are signs of smoke, buzzing, cracking or burning with your electric heater.
This post will discuss a few reasons why your electric heater smells like fish and what you should do about it.
Firstly, there are several types of electric heater.
The main types are
- fan heaters
- oil column heaters
- convector
- ceramic heaters.
Each type has the potential to cause an electrical fault, which as mentioned earlier can explain the fishy smell.
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Heaters typically will have have a plug which gets plugged into a wall outlet. The heater can also be permanently wired into the wall.
In our experience, heaters tend to fail when they are used incorrectly against manufacturers instructions.
An example of using a heater incorrectly is putting items (like wet clothes) on the heater. Another would be not having adequate free space around the heater (such as placing it too close to a bed.)
Not only can this cause a fire, but it can result in the heater failing due to electrical fault.
The best thing to do is follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
Why does my electric heater smell like fish? – Reason #1
Short Circuit Inside The Electric Heater
Why does my electric heater smell like fish? – Reason #2
Damaged Cable Or Plug
In addition to the above, check the lead and the plug for the heater. Over time leads and plugs can get damaged or deteriorate. If there are signs of damage to each this might have caused a short circuit.
Why does my electric heater smell like fish? – Reason #3
Burnt Out Outlet
Burnt out power outlets are another reason, in our experience.
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Heaters often draw a heavy electric load which can cause outlets to deteriorate and burn out. If this has happened, a breaker in the switchboard might have tripped.
A common sign of a burnt out outlet is evidence of melting such as discoloration around the phase terminal Finding black soot is another obvious and common indicator for a burnt out outlet.
In most cases, fixing this simply requires replacing the outlet with a new one.
Why does my electric heater smell like fish? – Reason #4
Heater Used Against Manufacturers Instructions
Check the manufacturer’s instructions for the type of heater that you have. A major reason for why the heater smells like fish is the history of the heater and how it has been installed or used.
Has the heater been exposed to moisture or used against the manufacturers instructions? For example, if the heater has been installed without adequate space around it or had things placed on it such as wet clothes, then the heater can deteriorate faster, eventually causing an electrical fault, which is where the fish smell comes from.
Why Does My Electric Heater Smell Like Fish?
If your electric heater smells like fish, it is most likely due to an electrical fault. The electrical fault generates heat causing components like plastic to burn generating a ‘fishy-like’ smell. The source of the fault could be at the electric heater itself or potentially at the wall outlet, if the heater is normally plugged in.
With many electric heaters it isn’t possible or economical to replace parts (although it could potentially be worth looking into whether parts can be replaced for your model of heater) so in most cases the best option is to replace the electric heater with a new one and replace the wall outlet if that is also damaged.
Source: https://t-tees.com
Category: WHY
