Green Goo
A Litt • 13 January 2020
Green Goo: What is it and what to do with it?
Have you ever seen a gooey, oozing green-colour substance in switch or socket-outlet boxes?
If so, you no need to panic. This blog may provide a useful insight.
Many homeowners who have experienced the same and wonder what to do?
Well, in this blog, we explain what this gooey substance and what can you do about it.
What is Green Goo?
In simplest terms, green goo is the output of a chemical reaction that takes place specially on the PVC cables that are pretty old (manufactured during 1965-1971). Copper conductors and plasticizer of those cables react over the time to produce this gooey, sticky, oily and unsightly substance.
Electricians call this green goo as ‘cable greening’ as well. With that said, if your house is wired using those cables manufactured during 1965-1971, you have a greater chance of finding loathed green goo.
1.Cable greening doesn’t take place overnight. The condition tends to grow gradually under normal conditions.
2.However, under high temperatures such as an overloaded circuit, the production of green goo can increase significantly.
3.If wiring has loose connections or high resistances are present, green goo production can become rapid.
4.The biggest concern is the potential for electrical fires caused by the breakdown of insulation especially on older electrical installations that have not been updated.
How to overcome green cable goo?
Has green goo invaded the wiring installation of your property pretty seriously? Well, in that case, there is no other long term solution other than rewiring the entire premises (definitely with the assistance of a professional, well-experienced electrician). You may need to replace the electrical accessories which are normally included in the rewire.
When it comes to retaining and working with contaminated wiring and fittings, you must be careful because it can cause some health and safety issues. The substances must be kept away from children and pets. Also, prevent exposing the substances and waste for casual contact.
In most of the cases, houses that are affected by green goo are normally rewired.
When handling the materials that are covered in goo, it is essential to wear appropriate protective gear. Also, the hygiene of the workers must be a top-priority when they handle installations that are heavily contaminated.
An Electrical Installation Condition Report should be conducted to allow for an informed decision to be made on the electrical installation this may also highlight areas of further investigation needed. If the severity of the green goo is within an acceptable limit, we recommend frequent electrical inspections to make note to the increase in the green goo. The frequency of the inspections will be based on the findings of the Electrical Installation Condition Report.
We recommend that the homeowners make frequent visual inspection of:
Plugs
Sockets
Light bulbs when replacing
If ever in doubt please contact a competent registered electrician without delay.
If you have anymore questions please do not hesitate to either email or call us. We are here to help.
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