Author Topic: Belts on washer causing fire?  (Read 3577 times)

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Offline Ralph Wiggum

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Belts on washer causing fire?
« on: February 01, 2013, 02:43:10 PM »
Just had a strange experience in my laundry room.  It is located on the ground floor along with furnace & water heater, storage, etc.  Put some clothes in the washer, about 5 min later I heard a strange squealing noise.  Furnace was running (it is all of 10 degrees here today).  Smelled like there was a fire.  Immediately turned off washer, squealing stopped & smell stopped getting worse.

Walked around the townhouse, didn't smell anything elsewhere.  Also turned down temp on furnace, just in case.  I'm thinking that a belt on the washer was rubbing on something or perhaps slipping.  Anyone ever have this happen or something similar?  Does this sound like a plausible explanation?  Suggestions? ???
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Offline Freeper

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Re: Belts on washer causing fire?
« Reply #1 on: February 01, 2013, 02:54:42 PM »
Could be the washer. Run it again and see if the smell returns. If not does your furnace have an emergency heat setting? Sometimes when the emergency heat comes on the heating element can smell for a bit.
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Offline Ralph Wiggum

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Re: Re: Re: Belts on washer causing fire?
« Reply #2 on: February 01, 2013, 03:17:27 PM »
Could be the washer. Run it again and see if the smell returns. If not does your furnace have an emergency heat setting? Sometimes when the emergency heat comes on the heating element can smell for a bit.

Gotta be the washer, it was definitely a rubber-ish burning smell.  Furnace kicked back on, and no noises or further smells.

Am a little scared to start washer again.  A buddy has appliance shop, may call him to diagnose.
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Offline IassaFTots

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Re: Belts on washer causing fire?
« Reply #3 on: February 01, 2013, 03:20:23 PM »
Did the inside of the washer smell?  It would be weird for a smell to start, and then stop quickly like that.  But, if you have belts in your washer, that could very well be it.  I have experienced more than my fair share of appliances burning out.  No fun indeed.  I would get it checked out.
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Offline Ralph Wiggum

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Re: Re: Re: Belts on washer causing fire?
« Reply #4 on: February 01, 2013, 03:27:04 PM »
Did the inside of the washer smell?  It would be weird for a smell to start, and then stop quickly like that.  But, if you have belts in your washer, that could very well be it.  I have experienced more than my fair share of appliances burning out.  No fun indeed.  I would get it checked out.

No, the smell subsided after I shut off washer & unplugged. Smelled inside & it seemed normal.

Gotta go run errands, but hopefully the belts were the culprit. More later, and will take more suggestions.
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Offline CG6468

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Re: Re: Re: Belts on washer causing fire?
« Reply #5 on: February 01, 2013, 03:39:20 PM »
No, the smell subsided after I shut off washer & unplugged. Smelled inside & it seemed normal.

Gotta go run errands, but hopefully the belts were the culprit. More later, and will take more suggestions.

Check out the condition of the belt. If it looks OK, try a little belt dressing.
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Offline thundley4

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Re: Belts on washer causing fire?
« Reply #6 on: February 01, 2013, 07:39:03 PM »
One of the bearings on a pulley may be frozen up or going out causing the belt to rub on the pulley.

Offline longview

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Re: Belts on washer causing fire?
« Reply #7 on: February 02, 2013, 04:35:21 PM »
One of the bearings on a pulley may be frozen up or going out causing the belt to rub on the pulley.

That is my guess, also. 

Offline Ralph Wiggum

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Re: Re: Belts on washer causing fire?
« Reply #8 on: February 05, 2013, 03:17:44 AM »
Ugh, I over-loaded the damn washer. It was all jeans, sweatshirts, etc.

Thanks for all the suggestions, but I am just a moron.
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Offline BEG

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Re: Re: Belts on washer causing fire?
« Reply #9 on: February 05, 2013, 06:22:49 AM »
Ugh, I over-loaded the damn washer. It was all jeans, sweatshirts, etc.

Thanks for all the suggestions, but I am just a moron.

H5 for finally admitting it.

Offline Freeper

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Re: Belts on washer causing fire?
« Reply #10 on: February 05, 2013, 07:58:22 AM »
Ugh, I over-loaded the damn washer. It was all jeans, sweatshirts, etc.

Thanks for all the suggestions, but I am just a moron.

That's why dudes should never do laundry without supervision.
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Offline Eupher

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Re: Belts on washer causing fire?
« Reply #11 on: February 05, 2013, 12:16:32 PM »
That's why dudes should never do laundry without supervision.

Mrs E did better than that. She fired me completely from doing laundry.

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Offline CG6468

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Re: Belts on washer causing fire?
« Reply #12 on: February 05, 2013, 12:38:49 PM »
Mrs E did better than that. She fired me completely from doing laundry.

 :whistling:

Yep. Me too. Cannot do the laundry. I am heartbroken...  ::)  :yahoo:
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Offline Freeper

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Re: Belts on washer causing fire?
« Reply #13 on: February 05, 2013, 01:57:25 PM »
Mrs E did better than that. She fired me completely from doing laundry.

 :whistling:

Yep shrink a few blouses and you become some kind if criminal.
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Offline Chris_

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Re: Belts on washer causing fire?
« Reply #14 on: February 05, 2013, 01:59:25 PM »
Yep shrink a few blouses and you become some kind if criminal.
Yeah, I have some clothes that "shrunk" in the wash too. 

That's it.
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Offline Ralph Wiggum

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Re: Re: Re: Re: Belts on washer causing fire?
« Reply #15 on: February 05, 2013, 02:46:43 PM »
H5 for finally admitting it.

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