Electric Shock

[Tilly2]

Why, when I run my fingers under the hot tap in the bathroom, do I always get a little electric 'shock'? It only happens first thing in the morning. Could it be because of my fleecy dressing gown?

[Old_Geezer]

Possibly static. Possibly an earthing issue that should be sorted. Does it only happen when wearing man made fibres ?

[whiskeryron]

Or even women made fibres.

[Old_Geezer]

No, they just do the knitting and sewing of them. And putting the buttons on.

[Tilly2]

I think it's my fleecy dressing gown. My clothes are all natural fibres, mainly cotton.

[RATTER15]

What were you doing to build up a lot of static the night before?

[Tilly2]

Mainly sleeping, ratter.

[jomifl]

Try it whilst wearing wellies to insulate you from the floor, if it still happens it is static if not an earth leak in which case it may be a corroded immersion heater element, you can test this by seeing if it still happens wth the heater switched off(but not wearing the wellies).

[Tilly2]

We don't have an immersion heater, jom. We have a central heating / hot water boiler.

[Zacs-Master]

Check that your pipes are earthed.

[Tilly2]

Ok, zacs, will do.

[jomifl]

OK Tilly, then switch that off.

[Old_Jim]

You're likely to be getting the shock BECAUSE your pipes are earthed. Wearing man made fibres or silk can build up a static charge. However, you'd be more likely to get the shock when you touch the tap.

My hot water is usually provided by my gas central heating, but I have a back-up immersion heater that cuts in if the pilot light blows out. I can always tell whether the water has been heated by gas or electricity because I get a tingling sensation when I put my hand under the tap of electrically heated water. The only explanation I can come up with is that the hot electric element removes more of the air from the water than the cooler indirect water pipe from the boiler. Is your water heated by electricity (if that's not too personal a question)?

[Tilly2]

No old jim, we have a gas fired boiler and that is what heats up the water.

[jomifl]

OJ, if you don't get the tingly feeling with the immersion heater switched off then you need to get it replaced before it electrocutes you.