Electrical Outlet Dust?

[JBilski]

We've been in a new house for 2 years and we are getting a lot of "silver" dust
around the faceplates of our electical outlets and switches. Does anyone know
the reason?
Thanks.

[Joseph Meehan]

I am guessing you are seeing some insulation dust.

--
Joe M
26 + 6 = 1
It's Irish math

[DaveMcS]

Could be tiny shavings off the actual plug as you plug.unplug items..check the
prongs..they may show signs of beings scraped by the outlet.. my two cents

D
"The Cap'n"
Commander of the Royal A/P Police
King of All Transportation
"Bring back Calvin & Hobbes"

[tom w]

Some new homes are sealed properly but the oil/gas furnace
and /or hot water heater suck air from inside the house. This
problem should have been addressed over a generation ago and yet
many still install such units without an outdoor, fresh air
inlet. The house may suck air down a fireplace chimney. Owners
then blame the chinmey for a cold and smelly room rather then
the real problem - improperly installed furnace or water heater.

In your case, this vacuum condition may be sucking air in
through electrical outlets. Just one possibility.

In article <20000330205152...@ng-fe1.aol.com>,

jbi...@aol.com (JBilski) wrote:
>We've been in a new house for 2 years and we are getting a lot
>of "silver" dust around the faceplates of our electical
>outlets and switches. Does anyone know the reason?

* Sent from RemarQ http://www.remarq.com The Internet's Discussion Network *
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[JBilski]

I doubt it....it is also on the light switch plate. Thanks however for the
suggestion.

[Budys back]

In article <20000331194542...@ng-cl1.aol.com>, jbi...@aol.com
(JBilski) writes:

>I doubt it....it is also on the light switch plate. Thanks however for the
>suggestion.

Do you have an ionizer in the house?

           \\\///
From:  (ô  ô)
+oOO-----(_)-------------------------+
  |   Budys back |     
+-----------------------------------------+

[Daniel Hicks]

JBilski wrote:
>
> We've been in a new house for 2 years and we are getting a lot of "silver" dust
> around the faceplates of our electical outlets and switches. Does anyone know
> the reason?

It is dust being blown out of the walls (or sucked into the walls) by
wind action. Indicates a lack of adequate wind barrier on the outside
of the house.

[JBilski]

No ionizer.....why did you ask?

[Greenlight]

Ionizers tend to get flaky crud to settle out of the air. Could be due to a
static charge on th plates. Do you find this stuff anywhere else?

JBilski <jbi...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20000331213123...@ng-fd1.aol.com...
> No ionizer.....why did you ask?

[JBilski]

Only on the outlets. This may sound crazy, but It looks like gunpowder from
firecrackers. I was also thinking of some type of electrical charge.

[Greenlight]

There are different materials used in the various plastic plates that are
appear to be quite different characteristics. I've noticed when unwrapping
the clear plastic wrappings that many brands form a strong static charge
between the two materials (the plastic wrappings and the plate). I have not
investigated the nature of this charge, but I suspect that trying a
different manufacturer's plate may have an effect. Can you get a brand name
from behind a plate?

JBilski <jbi...@aol.com> wrote in message

news:20000331224645...@ng-fd1.aol.com...

[Ron Slade]

My bet is that it is related to the insulation or vapor barrier. Seal
around the junction box to minimize this 'infiltration'.

--
rsl...@global.california.com
JBilski wrote in message <20000330205152...@ng-fe1.aol.com>...

>We've been in a new house for 2 years and we are getting a lot of "silver"
dust
>around the faceplates of our electical outlets and switches. Does anyone
know
>the reason?

>Thanks.

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