Frost on My Outlet
Ribarnica
there is frost around the outlet on the wall next to our patio door. Mind you,
its been about 10 below zero the past few days, but the house thermostat has
been set at 68 F and it seems to be doing a pretty good job. Do I need to
totally panic about this or is this not unusual and I just need to be careful
from the obvious water/electricity issues. Any help here?
My apologies if this has been discussed recently, I wasn't able to find a
reference to it on deja news. Thanks!
........................................................
"Man's mind stretched to a new idea
never goes back to its original dimensions."
- Oliver Wendel Holmes
Mike Fischer is...ribarnica@aol.com
Frank White
Remove the cover and caulk around the box and replace the cover. Just to be
on the safe side, avoid using it until the problem is solved. Water is a
great conductor of electricity.
Frank White
Home Repairs & Etc.
http://www.repair-home.com
Ribarnica wrote in message <19990107224231...@ng20.aol.com>...
hsherman
good conductor of heat. The back side of the box is probably close to the cold
outside of the house ... there could even be an outside receptacle back/to back
with the one getting so cold. Next summer change the box/boxes to plastic which
won't conduct the heat as fast to the outside.
In the meantime , distilled water will not carry electricity . Water that condenses
from the air is the same as distilled water (provided it's not dirty),thus ,plug
something in!!! If you're worried ,defrost it with a fan,then plug something in
Tom Gauldin
noticed that
>> there is frost around the outlet on the wall next to our patio
door. Mind you,
>> its been about 10 below zero the past few days, but the house
thermostat has
>> been set at 68 F and it seems to be doing a pretty good job. Do I
need to
>> totally panic about this or is this not unusual and I just need to
be careful
>> from the obvious water/electricity issues. Any help here?
>>
In a recently built home, there is still a lot of moisture from curing
concrete, drywall mud, wallpaper paste and even final clean-up. That
would probably explain the frost. A typical electrical box extends
almost the entire depth of a 2 X 4 stud wall. In a good job of
insulating, the insulator will place some insulation behind the box-
between it and the sheathing, will cut insulation carefully to fit
around the box and will even SEAL openings where the wire penetrates
the box. Frequently, this isn't done. To complicate matters, the
wire's bends by the box can even prevent decent insulation within
several inches of it.
In my own home, I remedied this by using foam that I squirted OUTSIDE
the box before insulation. It foamed in behind the box and also
sealed all openings. It gave the glass insulation something to "wrap
around," as well. I don't know if this is a recommended practice, but
it sure as heck prevented drafts.
There are commercial products for after market sealing of an outlet or
switch. The product is a latex foam gasket that is die cut just a tad
smaller than the cover plate. By installing it between the wall/box
and cover plate, it seals out a draft. Additional gasketed plugs plug
into the duplex receptacle to seal it as well.
What I would NOT do is to stuff any insulation into the box or to
attempt to foam it in.
Tom
S
gaskets that go into outlet and switch plates that are on outside walls.
They do cut down on heat loss and drafts.
If your local co won't supply them, they cost a couple of dollars per
dozen at a hardware store.