Electrical Issue in Daughter's Room

Unless you have a solid connection, which is actually quite rare arcing can occur. That is what happened. The outlet needs to be replaced end of discussion.

Since you felt the need to mention it, whether the humidifier was on is irrelevant.

Since I am a know it all a humidifier should be on a 220. It doesn't have to be but it should. :) Okay I don't actually know it all, I think it is a 220 but I am not at home to look at our extra outlets and I am not bothering my husband with the question. In other words a standard outlet will arc because of the voltage needed for a humidifier.

I was raised by a pack of carpenters/electricians, I called them my uncles. :p

I would get it replaced, and I would temporarily move her bed off of that wall until it is AND make sure she knows not to try to plug anything into that outlet until it is fixed. I think it will be just fine that way!

-M.

This happened in my kids' room some time ago. My brother who is an electrician came over and checked the outlet to make sure all was okay. He did not have to change out the outlet but it is a possibility. He said the outlet turned black because the way the cord was pulled kind of shocked the outlet and can happen even if what is plugged in is not actually on as we see it. Things still pull power whenever they are plugged in and we consider them "off".
For a humidifier, if it is a table top type like for a bedroom, a regular outlet should be fine. A higher outlet is needed for a high power like full house.
We have a dehumidifier in the basement and plug it into the washer/dryer outlets since they are higher but cannot use all 3 items at the same time.

Electricity issues is not something to take lightly. Make sure your land lady contacts an electrician to check your outlet and that she takes care of it right away. My husband is an electrician, his father, my father, I also work in the Electrical related field. Did you smell burning? Any sign of fire? Is it melted at all? The electrician needs to check to make sure your circuits are not overloaded. Unfortunately some homes are not wired well, the last thing you want is an electrical fire. If your land lady doesn't already have a contact to use she could call the RES (Residential Electrical Services) you may have heard their ads on the radio, its a electrical contractor referral service for residential services. The call center to get a local Electrical contractor to send out an electricain and fix your problem - 888-737-4239 or http://www.rescontractors.net/ It's a much better/safer option then just picking any doohicky contractor out of the phone book!

Check the breakers maybe one got tripped. If one is flipped to off flip it to on if that is the problem it will fix it. HTH

if the plug and outlet are black they are toast. the outlet needs to be replaced (an easy fix) and the humidifier is done (RIP) i am sure it did a good job while you had it.