outlet insulators from styrofoam meat trays

**sabrelvssammy** · 12-30-2009, 11:36 AM

i need advice from all my savvy buddies here....

i have been planning for quite some time to get outlet insulators installed inside all my outlets...sure i can go buy them (about $2.99 for 6-8) but the frugalite in me wants to make them instead...

i have been considering using all the styrofoam meat trays that i have lying around here and just make them...however...i have drug my feet on this because i am not sure how safe that really is (the ones you can buy are usually marked 'fire retardant')....

i know plenty of people make homemade ones...and the internet is full of instructions on how to do it...but i have just spent the last hour trying to find out whether it was safe or not (cannot find anything telling me it is not and not to do it)...but that doesn't necessarily mean anything...(i didn't see anything on telling me not to walk out in front of a moving vehicle either...but i know its probabaly not a really good idea).....

so does anyone have any 'professional' input on this ? i mean whats the point of saving $20 if i burn my house down in the process...(but hey...that would help expedite the de-cluttering process...lol).....

**ahmom** · 12-30-2009, 11:58 AM

I'm not a professional. My foam meat tray outlet insulators are 22 years old.

**savvy_sniper** · 12-30-2009, 01:35 PM

They are styrofoam so I would think the meat trays would work just fine. I wish I had known about that BEFORE I bought and installed the ones from the home improvement store.

**frugalfranny** · 12-30-2009, 01:44 PM

Good idea SS......will be watching this thread.

I think fixer might be an electrician.......let's all think about him and maybe he will appear today!!!

Cause, though I bought some years ago......they DON'T have all of the kinds I need. IE: I have a three switch outlet by my front door and you can't buy them in that size.

So, even if you plan to buy them, you won't be able to get all the ones that you need.

**savvy_sniper** · 12-30-2009, 01:48 PM

They only had singles when I bought mine. I just used three singles for my double and triple switches.

Originally Posted by frugalfranny

Cause, though I bought some years ago......they DON'T have all of the kinds I need. IE: I have a three switch outlet by my front door and you can't buy them in that size.

So, even if you plan to buy them, you won't be able to get all the ones that you need.

**mombottoo** · 12-30-2009, 01:59 PM

We've made outlet insulators from these trays in the past and never had any issues but, that was years ago. If you are concerned about them being a fire hazard you are better off going with the commerical ones marked fire retardant just for the peace of mind.

**kimmy4433** · 12-30-2009, 02:04 PM

Does styrofoam burn with flame or just melt? I would think they would just melt, but I really have no clue. I will be keeping an eye on this thread, because I have about 4 meat trays and all of my outlets need to be insulated. Thanks!

**sabrelvssammy** · 12-30-2009, 03:59 PM

Originally Posted by frugalfranny

Good idea SS......will be watching this thread.

I think fixer might be an electrician.......let's all think about him and maybe he will appear today!!!

come on fixer...where are you...there are women waiting all over the place for you now...lol

Originally Posted by mombottoo

We've made outlet insulators from these trays in the past and never had any issues but, that was years ago. If you are concerned about them being a fire hazard you are better off going with the commerical ones marked fire retardant just for the peace of mind.

if i worried about everything i do (which trust me...there are alot of stupid things)...i would be insane by now... lol

Originally Posted by kimmy4433

Does styrofoam burn with flame or just melt? I would think they would just melt, but I really have no clue. I will be keeping an eye on this thread, because I have about 4 meat trays and all of my outlets need to be insulated. Thanks!

i also read in my quest to put the child resistant plugs in too to help with the cool air escaping...makes sense to me...

**savvy_sniper** · 12-30-2009, 04:29 PM

Go in your back yard, start a fire of some sort, and hold one of your meat trays over the fire (with some long handled tongs) and see what happens! It SHOULD just melt.

OH and get your hubby to video tape it while you are at it - LOL!

**frugalfranny** · 12-31-2009, 12:42 AM

Wouldn't you know it..........

The one day we are all hanging around with our tongues out - waiting for fixer to drop in, he IGNORES us.......can't even give us even a NOD!!! :WEEPING:

Well.......I just might copy this thread and write to him........the little DEVIL!!

**madhen** · 12-31-2009, 01:14 AM

I think fixer is getting his fix of Mafia Wars instead of hanging out here with all of us pansies.

**Luckybustert** · 12-31-2009, 01:20 AM

I need to ask what an outlet insulator is supposed to do? I'm not really sure what it's for or why I'd need one.

**frugalfranny** · 12-31-2009, 01:37 AM

Originally Posted by Luckybustert

I need to ask what an outlet insulator is supposed to do? I'm not really sure what it's for or why I'd need one.

A piece of insulation (thin foam) that goes in the light/switch outlets to keep the cold air out.

Hold your hand up by one - especially one on an outside wall - a fair amt. of cold air comes through.

**Luckybustert** · 12-31-2009, 01:46 AM

Originally Posted by frugalfranny

A piece of insulation (thin foam) that goes in the light/switch outlets to keep the cold air out.

Hold your hand up by one - especially one on an outside wall - a fair amt. of cold air comes through.

Thanks FF, good to know. My hubby worked as an electrician for 20 years so I usually just figure he'll take care of those kinds of things. I guess my concern here would be the safety of using the styrofoam meat trays. I worry about electricity and wiring, especially in older houses. $2.99 is such as small price to pay for 6-8, and they're manufactured specifically for that purpose.

**frugalfranny** · 12-31-2009, 01:52 AM

Originally Posted by Luckybustert

Thanks FF, good to know. My hubby worked as an electrician for 20 years so I usually just figure he'll take care of those kinds of things. I guess my concern here would be the safety of using the styrofoam meat trays. I worry about electricity and wiring, especially in older houses. $2.99 is such as small price to pay for 6-8, and they're manufactured specifically for that purpose.

Hey.....that is what we wanted fixer for........the safety question.....can you ask your hubby if it would be safe to use the trays???

The 'kicker' is that you have to combine a lot of the boughten ones as they only make certain ones - IE: I have a triple switch by my front door and have another that has two switches and a plug in....they don't sell those...so would save some money.