light switches seem recurringly bunged up by ants

This might sound like a quirky problem b/c it was for me the first couple of times I encountered it; but now it is just becoming annoying. It seems we have the recurring problem of ants bunging up our light switches. I am not exactly sure what occurs, but every so often a light switch stops working and the rocking of the switch is rough compared to previous operation. After taking the cover off to disconnect the leads from the switch box to shake loose any foreign matter, the switch seems to work fine once more.
I think the problem is with ants because it only seems occur at times when the ant population hits a boom (several times a year around out place).

The real problem is disconnecting the leads from the switch, since the contractors who installed the electrical never left any goof-loops on any of the leads and gawd-damn if there is no slack whatsoever to work with, making the job a real PITA!

Anyways, just curious if this might be a problem anyone else has encountered and what solutions might have been employed.

I can't see it being an ant problem. In the years I've been living here I've never had this problem. I had a problem with a Gecko once with regards to my microwave cooker. The fcuker managed to bridge a positive & negative and paid the price.

Bu ant poison from the little shop on the corner.

Have the same problem in Oz, with Timers and GPO's I find that I have to Turn the power off and spray with a Insecticide, then place Baits in all the Power Box's

I also use a ''Lanotec'' spray, its the Oil from the wool of sheep. non conductive and totally different to any 'Penetrating oil'

Ive never seen this product available here, only in Oz, but you should be able to bait the Powe boxs with Ant killer.

I've had the same problem a few times.
Try covering the switch face with cling film to stop the ants getting it.
Seal the back on the box as well if it needs it

I had the same problem with the switches on my patio. The ant spray in the department stores is useless, it only seems to kill the ants you actually hit. Get some quality poison from a decent store, I got that Steadfast stuff from Homeworks and it was still killing ants weeks after I sprayed it. It's not cheap, costs about 700 Baht for a concentrated bottle, but works.

I heard about this a few years ago.

www.extension.org/pages/30057/ants-and-their-affinity-for-electrical-utilities

Link not working

google ants electrical

I had a similar problem with my air con switch in my car. Bought a new Mazda 2 and about a week after getting it found my air con was not working, the fan worked but no cold air came out. I took it to the dealer and after about 10 minutes of looking the mechanic called out "Mot" and sprayed out the air con switch under the bonnet with air. Problem fixed. Seems the ants were looking for somewhere cool to set up home.

Buy a can of crack and crevice spray, it has a long nozzle on it which lets you spray into hard to get to areas, it works

yes it is small ants, what i do is just remove the cover and spray with WD40 and rock the switch while doing so. i then use that chalk to mark an area around the swutch.

You can also get 'ant chalk'. They cant walk across it, so just draw a box around each light switch.

https://teakdoor.com/images/imported/2012/07/2452.jpg

I get the bastards coming in through the conduits.
Ant Super Highway.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by gusG

I get the bastards coming in through the conduits. Ant Super Highway.

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Silicon in the ends of the conduit run stops them and moisture from getting in.