Sticky on/off switch on elec water heater

[tomseeley]

Our elec water htr has a toggle switch inside the outdoor cover as well as the usual on/off switch in the kitchen. We always use both for safety's sake. The outside one is sticky and hard to move from OFF to ON.

I certainly would not spray it with WD40. But could I safely spray it with graphite? The powdered kind I spray onto sticky locks? I don't think graphite is a conductor but I don't know if it would work in any case.

[shooted]

I would suggest replacement. Graphite probably would not hurt anything but it is conductive.

[trail-explorer]

2oldman wrote:

tomseeley wrote:
I certainly would not spray it with WD40..

Why not?

WD40 is flammable.

flammable sprays around electric and flames is not a good combination

[WayneAt63044]

I'm thinking graphite is a good conductor like the carbon rod for the + terminal in a zinc carbon battery. I use WD40 all the time.

[2oldman]

tomseeley wrote:
I certainly would not spray it with WD40..

Why not?

[ScottG]

It's a cheap switch and it's wearing out. I would spend the $2 and just replace it before it fails completely.

[Yaj]

CRC Power Lube, improves electrical properties, safe for most plastics, and a good penetrating lube. Good stuff!

[Cougarnewbie]

I used QD Electronic Cleaner by CRC. It's like brake kleen for electronics. I just sprayed the front of the switch. Toggled the switch a few times. Sprayed it again. Switch works like new. Easiest repair ever.

[Crazy_2]

If it were me, I would just replace it.

[phenrichs]

I have one of those switches too. Mine actually locked up and I had to replace it. Cost $2. I would take it out and use a brake cleaner type spray to try and clean it out. Work it back and forth and see if that frees it up before trying a lubricant type spray.

[downtheroad]

I guess graphite would work. I just give sticky switches a squirt of silicone spray...
I haven't been blown up yet.