Yahoo Answers is shutting down on May 4th, 2021 (Eastern Time) and beginning April 20th, 2021 (Eastern Time) the Yahoo Answers website will be in read-only mode. There will be no changes to other Yahoo properties or services, or your Yahoo account. You can find more information about the Yahoo Answers shutdown and how to download your data on this help page.

Is expanding foam coming out of an electrical socket a hazard for tonight?

I have just sprayed the inside of a wall with expanding foam to insulate it, and hadnt seen the electrical outlet on the other side, now the foam is actually seeping out of the socket. i have unscrewed the outlet plate and left the socket to dangle out of the wall to allow the foam to keep coming out. The outlet wont be used till its all cleaned up/replaced. my question is will it be safe to leave it for tonight untill i can fix it tomorrow?

Update:

Thanks for the re-assurance. Gerald, its a 100 year old house, its the external wall that i filled with the foam, as i cant retro fit batts and we dont have the fluffy stuff here. Its just to help insulate the wall a bit better. Here in NZ some old houses have nothing more than just weatherboards on the outside and 5mm hardboard/or "sarking" on the inside. 

7 Answers

Relevance
  • Anonymous
    2 months ago

    REPLACE the receptacle!

  • Anonymous
    2 months ago

    You might have rock wool.  Which is similar to pink fibreglass but cost less and is about as good.  I seen the hardboard (almost like rockboard is what I would call it) I guess termite proof.

    .  The foam is safe and will expand for a few days. It goes on a long time like 4 times its volume.  Safe electrically and you got to use up the can in one day.  Otherwise it dries in the nozzle and tube and is junk as you can't get it out anymore.

    Fluffy stuff? you have sheep wool.

  • Paul
    Lv 6
    2 months ago

    If you want to be completely safe, turn off the power, remove the outlet and cap off the wires with wire nuts.  Then replace the outlet at your earliest convenience.  Make sure to make a diagram or take a photo of where the wires connect before removing them.

  • 2 months ago

    you're good.  that foam isn't an electrical conductor anyway

  • How do you think about the answers? You can sign in to vote the answer.
  • gerald
    Lv 7
    2 months ago

    Expanding foam ? Insulation ? Havent seen it is it cavity wall ? studded wall then its inside ? Are you sound proofing ? Just curious 

  • Anonymous
    2 months ago

    It should be OK for tonight. The thing you need to investigate is if the cable serving the outlet has become buried in the insulation and is not loose within a conduit, then you are in breach of wiring codes. The risk is that wiring will overheat, short and either fail or cause a fire. Update - once did a job on Waiheke Island, so the construction sounds very familiar, a dollar to a cent there is no conduit.

  • 2 months ago

    It'll be fine When it dries Use a sharp razor blade to trim off the dried excess foam 

Still have questions? Get your answers by asking now.