Specifically from the light switches. Dad replaced them a few weeks ago and two or three of them now appear to be leaking. The ooze is dark green in colour and reasonably sticky.
The only explanation Dad got was from a DIYer who reckoned someone might have used washing up liquid to lubricate electric wiring as they pulled it through some sockets.
Anyone else have any reasonable explanations?
Slimer?
Lube for pulling wires is indeed green and slightly sticky, but you only need to do that with a hard/long pull through conduit. Doubtful that that was used in a residence with Romex wiring.
As to what else it may be… No idea.
Someone I knew owned an old house and was puzzled about a sticky substance oozing onto the wall from beneath a bay window. Turns out there was a very large bee hive inside the wall and the sticky stuff was honey.
Did he use spray in insolation foam? That stuff keeps expanding for a long time and is very sticky. The stuff I’ve used is bright yellow but there may be other brands.
There was some cavity insulation used years ago. Where some of it spilt out, it appeared clear/yellow.
What does it smell like? What can dissolve it? If you get it on your hand, does it clean up with soap and water? Paint thinner? Nail polish remover? How old is the house? Who did the original electric work?
Inquiring minds wanna know!
~VOW
Ooh, a question I can actually answer. Is the wiring in your house fairly old? There is/was a type of PVC insulation used in around the 1960s (and perhaps much later) that breaks down over time, releasing the plasticiser in the form of green “goo”. It’s di-isooctyl phthalate, if you want to get scientific.
Google “PVC green liquid” or similar terms for lots of discussion, e.g. see here.
It’s not a major problem, unless the insulation is seriously degraded - although it is probably a sign that your wiring is pretty old and could stand to be replaced…
The stuff seems pretty innocuous, it pretty much rubs off into nothing under my finger.
The house was built in the 60s, with nothing much being done to it by way of renovation till my parents moved in 20 years ago.