what may cause that? its not all the time but it happens often. and even when we dont tell people they freak out and say what the hell? its mainly when you touch the spout but is also in the water. HELP!!!! i have 5 kids and want to know if this is dangerous and who would i call?
2006-10-19 13:48:54 · 12 answers · asked by grniz07 3 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
Yes, this is dangerous. Something metal has grounded itself to your water faucet or pipes. Have you hung a cabinet or picture in the bathroom, done some remodeling nearby, or is there a power cord near the water?
Call an electrician in ASAP, before someone gets elecrocuted.
2006-10-19 13:53:34 · answer #1 · answered by Mmerobin 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
As has been mentioned, you have a bad heating element in the water heater. The element is opened and allowing current to go into the water. There is enough resistance going through the water to not trip the breaker but give you a good tingle in the shower. To test this out simply turn the breaker off to the water heater and you will not get the tingle.
I would venture to say that you may have noticed the hot water either is not as hot as it was or you are running out of hot water sooner than you should.
It is usually the bottom element in the heater so you will need to shut off the breaker and drain the tank before removing the defective element.
2006-10-19 14:16:48 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Not being an electrician, I can't be certain, but if you are truly feeling a "shock" sensation when you ground yourself by touching the spout, then I think you could run a real risk of someone getting hurt. I would guess that the source would be local to your shower. Perhaps electricall wires in the wall are contacting the plumbing. Alternatively, I suppose it could be coming from your water heater and you could try running just cold water, but I wouldn't feel safe without having the wiring in the BR checked. If you know someone with a meter inclined to help, then maybe they could confirm your suspicions before you called an electrician. I would think any amount of current detected would be a bad sign.
2006-10-19 13:59:01 · answer #3 · answered by Jacket fan 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Stay out of the shower until an experienced electrician see it. Not your landlords electrician if you rent. It could be a couple of combined issues. It is pretty common for people that aren't experienced, or are cutting costs, to run wiring alongside plumbing piping, as the chases in most homes are the same. Especially true if any electrical wiring has been replaced in an older home. I would absolutely err on the side of caution and call a good electrician immediately.
2006-10-19 14:00:12 · answer #4 · answered by detecting_it 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
If you live in a Mobile home, perhaps the home itself is not grounded. Your best bet when dealing with electric is call and electrician.I've live in several older homes, and have had a myriad of electric problems, including yours. It was a loose striped wire in and outlet, and the metal of the wire was touch the metal on the outlet, and the electricity, following the path of least resistance, went to the plumbing. It could be a simple fix, such as a loose wire in and outlet, or a big expensive fix, like the water heater.
2006-10-19 18:33:30 · answer #5 · answered by blindfredd 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
lmmfao sorry to laugh but some of the ignorant answers people give is funny yet stupid, Red Rooster was more than likely right as older elements burn out(lose their coating) the tend to use the water as a ground it can be Deadly Have an electrician check that and the Grounding electrode conductor(the ground wire to your home) ASAP, if as most electricians won't change water heater elements they can pin point the problem
2006-10-22 13:53:36 · answer #6 · answered by Ray D 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I've had that also, and I traced it to a bad element in the water heater, it was not enough current leaking through the water to ground to trip the breaker, but enough to tingle when you took a shower. It could also be the water pipes not having a good ground attached.
2006-10-19 13:56:57 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I cannot answer without checking things out, but, i can give you advice. Please don't take any chances, and, get things checked out by an electrician. Do not put the lives of your children, or anyone else, at risk of electrocution...
Electricity panel is usually grounded on a water pipe...
2006-10-19 14:13:42 · answer #8 · answered by GYL 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
If I were you.. I would check to make sure that the water line coming into the house is GROUNDED
2006-10-19 13:52:31 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
u have a ground problem.....get this fixed ASAP and dont take another shower until this is fixed.....u or anyone showering can be killed!!
lic. gen. contractor
2006-10-19 15:05:55 · answer #10 · answered by bigg_dogg44 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋