The sight of bugs coming out of an electrical outlet might seem horrifying. But, this issue isn’t just reserved for scary movies and cabins in the woods. Insects are drawn to homes and commercial buildings out of a desire to find food, water, and shelter. Even if your home is immaculate, all it takes is a tiny crack and an ambitious insect to create the perfect conditions for an infestation.
Know the Types of Bugs That Go Inside Electrical Outlets
Just about any small insect could go inside your home or commercial building’s electrical outlets. If you think an insect could slip through a door or window crack, then they can also get through an opening around the outlet cover or along the wall. Electricians often encounter the following insects during building inspections.
- Termites – These bugs are usually found in other parts of the building, but they can make their way to the outlets as they chew through wood.
- Spiders – Arachnids are opportunistic, and they’ll often invade spaces where they can find other bugs to feed on.
- Ants – Most ants are found in kitchen and dining room outlets after they wind up in them as they search for food, and they often turn up in home offices where people snack close to electrical appliances.
- Cockroaches – Last, but definitely not least, are these nuisance bugs that can squeeze through the tiniest cracks and infest warm, dark places such as electrical outlets.
Understand What Attracts Bugs to Electrical Systems
Considering that humans know how dangerous electricity can be, it seems odd for insects to prefer going into outlets where they can be exposed to hazardous shocks. But, bugs aren’t necessarily known for being safety-conscious.
Instead, bugs are attracted to electrical outlets for several reasons that they view as being beneficial for their survival. For instance, the electrical outlets and the walls around them can be warmer than other parts of a building. This can cause insects to view them as being a cozy place to take shelter during a cold spell. Professional electricians often notice an increase in outlet infestations during the winter season.
Outlets also provide a quiet and secluded space that bugs use for shelter. If a bug finds the area suitable for making a nest, then you might notice quite a few coming out of the outlet. As a general rule, you’ll want to assume there are multiple insects in an outlet when you see one coming in or out of the wall.
Although outlets shouldn’t be a good food source for most bugs, spiders will use them to trap other insects when they notice enough of them around the wiring. Nearby food and drink spills might also alert insects to the warmth that the outlet provides, thus providing the bugs with multiple things they need for survival.
The final thing that attracts bugs to outlets is moisture. Insects need a water source to survive, which is why you might see them in bathrooms and kitchens where moisture builds up. While a bug in an outlet isn’t always a sign of a hazardous situation, you may need to double-check that there isn’t a leaky pipe or fixture that is close to the electrical wiring.
If there is water in or near the outlet, then you’ll need to take emergency actions such as shutting off the power and water before calling for professional help.
Watch Out For Bug-Related Outlet Issues
Although the sight of a bug in your home might cause you to recoil in horror, the real fear can come from what insects might do to an electrical system. Bugs inside of outlets can cause short circuits if they bridge the connections. If this happens, then you might notice the breakers tripping and power outages occurring in specific parts of your home.
Corrosion is also a problem that develops from bugs getting into parts of the wiring system where they don’t belong. Bugs leave droppings and waste products behind as they move throughout the system, and an insect dying can also generate conditions that lead to corrosion. Over time, the corrosion can cause the electrical connections to weaken and pose a safety risk.
Bugs shed skin and leave other debris behind while making their nests and chewing through building materials that increase the risk of electrical fires. If a spark occurs within the system, then it can cause flammable materials, such as chewed-up wood, to ignite.
Wood-chewing insects can cause structural damage that further compromises the safety of your home. Termites and carpenter ants can chew around the areas near outlets, and it’s possible for the damage to extend to the wiring. If enough damage occurs, then you might need to replace the building materials and wiring in these areas.
Act Quickly to Eliminate Outlet Infestations
Once you notice an insect problem around the outlet, you need to call two important types of people. First, a pest control technician can help you to eliminate the actual infestation. Then, you’ll need to hire an electrician to inspect the outlets and assess the electrical system for damage.
Once you’ve addressed the immediate issue, it’s time to safeguard the electrical system from bugs. An electrician can help to install outlet seals and gaskets behind the covers of the outlets. These work as a barrier that stops bugs from getting inside.
Caulking around any cracks or gaps that exist along the outlets and walls also eliminates entry points for insects. You’ll want to make sure to pay careful attention to the areas where wires are located along the walls since this is where bugs are most attracted to.
As a final step, use general household pest prevention strategies. Cleaning up spills near outlets and avoiding snacking near electrical appliances can help deter pest activity. You can also choose to use natural pest repellents in areas where you’ve noticed insects in your home or commercial building before. Certain plants and natural oils, such as peppermint and eucalyptus, are known for repelling bugs that are attracted to outlets.
Professional electricians often discover bugs hiding out in outlets and electrical appliances. Once you get over your initial shock from seeing an errant insect, reach out to our team at Mister Sparky to inspect the electrical system and ensure that it is safe and free from bug-related damage.