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Or the socket faulty wirings heat the wall and make it less mold friendly.
No. It’s absolutely the next penicillin
“Got a runny nose or fever? Just lick this electrical socket!”
I mean, very few people would report symptoms of a runny nose or a fever after licking the socket…
Some “just stop testing” logic!
The 1800’s called, they want their medicine back
You should start licking batteries, to build resistence.
I just like the color electricity tastes
Somebody needs to eat a square of that drywall.
The nearly perfectly symmetrical shape makes me think its due to the electromagnetic fields when current is passing through the socket to whatever is plugged in, but I have no idea why such a small amount would have such a dramatic effect on the mold.
I was thinking it might just be heat from the wiring or plugged in devices keeping it too dry for the mold.
It could also be that they needed to mud/tape around the opening for the plug in the drywall/plaster and it changed the consistency/chemical makeup just enough to not be as friendly to the growth of mold (less moisture/denser etc)
Or a loose connection is arcing slightly and producing ozone gas
Maybe, it’s the plaster holding in the wall box…
Yeah, I think this is a lot more plausible than the wall heating theory that someone further up got way more upvotes for.
Most likely.
The box tends to sit slightly proud of the wall. When they plaster it in (particularly retroactively) they need to build up the plaster around the socket.
Thicker plaster means more insulation, and less condensation. Less condensation, less mold.
The ring around the socket also supports this. The edge where the new plaster gives way to the old. That point tends to be rougher, and so more prone to capturing mold.
It could also be thicker paint causing the same effect. Most people do the wall with rollers, but sockets with a brush, leading to a thicker coat.
Also in some countries plaster comes with antifungal substances mixed in by default.
Ozone being generated by spotty and arcing electrical connections?
I don’t know if that makes it better or worse.
More like anti-fungal effects but still interesting.
Maybe it’s a fairy ring https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairy_ring
Stick conductive metal in the outlet and you will be transported to the fey realm.
Makes sense to me.
(I’m not a biologist, though.)
It’s not perfectly symmetrical around the socket, kinda makes me think of someone spreading wall patching/repair material and/or paint, so maybe the mold didn’t like a different material that was made to look the same around the socket?
Sometimes mold growing around the perimeter of a socket or switch is a sign of moisture behind that wall (poor insulation, water seeping from a leaky pipe or a hole in the roof…). I’ve never seen it form a ring like that though, usually it’s right on the edge of the outlet plate.
I’ve seen similar things with homes with water damage. One of the shitty things about water damage is that you have to redo a lot of the electrics throughout the house because it can cause corrosion. Corrosion in connectors in things like outlets increases resistance and can become a fire risk.
I’m guessing the whole wall got sustained water damage causing corrosion in the outlet, increasing resistance, which caused it to throw off some heat. The heat dried out the plaster and prevented mold growth.
*antifungals
It’s probably that the plug is retrofitted into the wall after construction and it uses a different type of plaster which carries a diffent moisture level.
Maybe hands plugging in and unplugging stuff touches the wall and erases the mold.
Mould deflection is one of the lesser known type-G plug and socket safety features.
Also, black mold spores cause lung conditions.
Not all black colored mold is that kind of black mold.
The issue is that without paying for lab analysis its really hard to differentiate between toxic and nontoxic molds. It’s not something you can see or smell. Not to mention white, green, and brown molds can also be toxic so unless you wanna gamble with your quality of life it’s best to consider any visible mold growth in an indoor living area as a health hazard.
Yeah it’s not very good for the structures or materials it’s growing on either.
Thousands of species of mold appear black (actually dark green). The one that is usually singled out in this made up category is Stachybotrys chartarum. The whole “black mold” thing is the result of several irresponsible people who are drumming up fears about mold and then profiting off of those fears. Don’t believe the hype.
The color of a mold has no correlation to how dangerous it may be. This is frequently stated by agencies throughout the world including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
There is no evidence that otherwise healthy individuals have any reason to fear getting sick from general mold growth in buildings, mold inhalation, or any other type of exposure even to the so-called toxic molds. Yes, being around mold may cause minor effects like a stuffy nose or coughing for some, especially those with asthma or mold allergies. Typically, it only seriously affects patients who have underlying health conditions such compromised immune systems who are at risk of systemic fungal infections. But unless you’re in one of those rare categories, you really don’t have much to fear about exposure to any mold species.
That said, we should not have mold growing in our buildings. It is an indication of something wrong and will lead to the degradation of building materials. Regardless of color, all visible mold should be removed from buildings and homes.
Right, even if doesn’t break your lungs, it breaks the wall.
Heat
Electromagnetic induction.
Another feather in the cap for the UK plug socket
Wait, people like the UK socket?
Non-reversible, insulated prongs, stability… What’s not to like?
Non reversible is not a benefit afaik. DE has all that with reversible.
It can be better if one is predictably L and the other N.
I read it somewhere, I’m not an electrician.
