Frosted Electrical Outlet. Help Please.

[BiscuitNaBasket]

The next warmer day we get in Marion County I'll dig a path over there and check it from the outside. There may be an outlet on the outside of the house in that area.

 

[BiscuitNaBasket]

Plugs on an outside wall are subject to improper insulation due to depth of box. I am curious if this is a 2x4 wall? N or NW wall? Hmmm, I have seen pinholes in insulation allow cold air to freeze waterlines. Frost would not be surprising but undesirable nonetheless.

Disclaimer: I am not a certified electrician or insulation specialist and would suggest contacting a qualified professional.

Yes, a 2x4 wall with vinyl siding on the exterior and the outlet is right under a window as well. North facing wall.

 

[actaeon277]

Use those little kiddie protectors to try to keep air from flowing.
Amazon.com: 20 Pieces White Electric Socket Outlet 2 Plugs Safety Cover Protectors Caps for Baby Children Kids Infrant: Baby

Or, try some electrical or duct tape. (if you leave the tape on a long time, it will leave goo on the cover)

These are temporary measures. You want to stop the airflow.
Maybe a plastic bag over the outside outlet.

 

[actaeon277]

If you don't know about electricity or electrical safety, don't go playing in there. I don't know how many people I've heard say, "I thought the power was off", or "I didn't know it would hurt that much", etc.

 

[rgrimm01]

Yeah, I think we all have a set of lineman pliers or a screwdriver with a chunk missing. Nothing quite like seeing that bluish flash and hearing pooft while feeling the jolt before the circuit can trip circuit can trip circuit can trip. Luckily, in most cases, the longturm damagw to 1self is menamum.

 

[T/SF34/A]

Had the same issue with my former CP Morgan built house. In my case, I had to seal an air leak from the base of the window frame with caluk (thats where the air was coming into the wall from the outside). After that I didnt have any more issues, at least as far as this subject is concerned.

 

[Stschil]

Better get that fixed before those wires freeze. If the wires burst there will be electricity spraying all over the place!

Yes, you're supposed to leave the electric running when it's this cold so it don't freeze up. You need a little bucket to catch all the electric that drains out. Dont let it spill on the carpet. Very sticky stuff.

{by the way, I think the bunny nailed it and I just had to add something}

While you're at it, you had better check your Internet lines. You don't want your internetz all over the roadway.

 

[hornadylnl]

 

[churchmouse]

Pull the cover.....use expanding foam from the can and fill the void behind the plug. Do not foam in the plug just the void behind and around it.

 

[88GT]

That is obviously the path of least resistance for the air flow. There must be a serious lack of insulation in that section of wall.

At least it looks like all the electricity didn't spill out.

Yes, a 2x4 wall with vinyl siding on the exterior and the outlet is right under a window as well. North facing wall.

has anybody watched one of the new construction vinyl homes being built? NO insulation but for the exterior foam board. There is a vinyl village neighborhood I pass on my way to the grocery store. In slightly warmer weather you can see the location of the 2x4 studs outlined in the condensation on the vinyl siding. Kinda like seeing the roof trusses line on a roof that sits over a poorly insulated attic.

 

[hoosierdoc]

We build a house and I could feel drafts coming from the west-facing outlets and stair lights. I had them re-insulate the areas. It was a 2x6 wall too. Insulate, insulate. It will stop the outlet from freezing, but your wall will still be cold probably.

 

[jkaetz]

Pull the cover.....use expanding foam from the can and fill the void behind the plug. Do not foam in the plug just the void behind and around it.

I have a couple southwest facing outlets that are drafty, they looked the same yesterday. One is covered in painters tape, the other is in use but CM's solution will be mine. The house is a Beazer home built in late 2005 early 2006 and was completely quantity over quality. It's just lazyness on the part of the builders.

 

[eldirector]

I've used the foam outlet "inserts" in several places. We have a couple of outlets on outside walls that are obviously not well insulated. I'd get a slight draft on especially cold days. The foam solved it.

 

[dmarsh8]

 

[Dead Duck]

So - This never happened before your girlfriend used that plug? Hmmmm........














Make her fix it..

 

[jagee]

So - This never happened before your girlfriend used that plug? Hmmmm........














Make her fix it..

Good luck with that...

 

[88GT]

Good luck with that...

You should be careful with your assumptions. I can't speak for OP's girlfriend, but this female has done a fair bit more than some of the males on this site.

 

[JettaKnight]

Wouldn't spraying foam INSIDE the receptacle box be a bad thing / code violation?



I've got a whole circuit panel on a exterior wall with minimal (no?) insulation. It's extremely drafty (now frosty).

In the past I've sealed it with a plastic sheet and duct tape. But I'm working on an insulated blanket with magnets that allows access to the panel without tearing the paint off the wall.

 

[churchmouse]

Wouldn't spraying foam INSIDE the receptacle box be a bad thing / code violation?



I've got a whole circuit panel on a exterior wall with minimal (no?) insulation. It's extremely drafty (now frosty).

In the past I've sealed it with a plastic sheet and duct tape. But I'm working on an insulated blanket with magnets that allows access to the panel without tearing the paint off the wall.

Use the foam behind the box to fill the void. That is where the cold air is coming from.

 

[BiscuitNaBasket]

Well, I'm awake and my electricity did not spill all over the floor during the night.