ECN Forum Forums General Topics of the Trade General Discussion Area plug in air fresheners

I pondered a couple of things after seeing an ad on TV about the outlet powered air fresheners.
How do these things work?
What should I, a homemaker person, be aware of when using such a product?
What are some of your thoughts on the added outlet on these products? (Especially in the bathroom) where the curling iron and blow dryer are used regularly.
Inquiring mind wants to know.
Tiffany

I can't believe they get away with making these things. I can just imagine how many homeowners are going to cut off the ground prong of the cord cause the air fresheners additional outlet doesn't have a place for it.

[This message has been edited by elektrikguy (edited 07-16-2002).]

These things make me cringe! Even though its a small one, I don't like the idea of a heating element in cheap packaging being left powered. Not in my house! Matt

Tiffany,

I saw the same Commercial [I think] and had to complain for a good 10 minutes, driving my Wife and a few Friends out of the room! [joke!].

The one I saw showed a split screen with two people having the same scenario[s]. The one on the left was using "The Other Guy's Air Freshener" which did not contain "The Convenient Extra Outlet" of the "Better Brand" on the right [please pardon my kooky descriptions here!].

Things were funny at first because [for me] simply removing the darn air freshener from the receptacle so something else could be plugged in was the only thing that came to mind.
After seeing the Kitchen Appliances plugged into it, that laughter became complaints.
Then when the blow dryer was plugged in, I was on a classic tirade!!!
[spell check here - Tirade - sounds like Tie - Raid... to rant and rave excessivly].

I believe these things work by heating either heating the air with some fixed resistor, which causes the air to rise through the assemblige, and while the air rises it picks up some of the scent particles from the air freshener [and possibly discharge some bad odors into it, odors trapped in water, dust, etc.], or the scent stuff is directly heated, which ends up dissipating into the cooler surrounding air.

Have noticed some of these will have a piece of plastic which covers the lower part of a duplex receptacle - preventing its use while the air freshener is plugged in.

We have one which runs in an outlet by its self. I watch that sucker like a Hawk!!!

Scott S.E.T.

One slumlord provided many in an effort to mask the amount of animal urine, via the prior 3-toes sloths.......
The 'new' tenants then piled laundry , magazines etc against these...
No doubt UL's pristine conditions would not take such abuse into acount.....

...slummmin' Steve....
~sparky~

So what exactly are you guys worried about? I am reading your complaints but I am not seeing any evidence to back your complaints. I have several of these plugged in in my house. All are UL listed, and none have been a problem.

I guess the question would be:

Are these things rated for 1875W feed through?

Scott35,
A similar occurance happened at our house...
Which prompted, uh, "Tiff" to post the Q...

These things are available over here as well, although I haven't (as yet) seen any with a feed-thru outlet.

My mom has a few of these, both normal, double and "extra socket."

She doesn't use them often, but from what I've seen they don't get hot -- just warm to the touch. Have you ever seen one after a few years of constant use though? The plastic gets stained and discolored from the deodorant capsule (which is some sort of waxy oil or something) and the heat.

I'm not all that thrilled about them....and al I'm waiting for is someone to plug a 5,000 watt space heater or an air conditioner through a cheater plug into one of these things....

just my 2 cents, but I don't like the looks of them either. You won't see any in my house.

Caper