Help my kitchen vent is electrified!!!!

[rw02kr43]

We've got a screwed up problem. Our kitchen vent is electrified. Are you able to help or know someone who could help pretty quick? this thing is scary. I tested the vent and it's pushing 98 volts. If you stand on the vent barefoot and touch the sink it gives a pretty good shock. It's really strange.


Jason

 

[TB1999]

Be careful! We don't want to hear about you on the news.

 

[K_W]

So you're​ talking​ metal floor vent? I would look under the floor and make sure that none of the electrical wires are running across the ductwork, you'll find one of them is probably rubbing against it and has broken through insulation. Turn the power off first because if one is electrified they're all electrified.

 

[Glock22]

Shut the breakers off one at a time and test each time you do. Must have a bare wire against the duct work

 

[SEIndSAM]

Wow.....I am looking forward to hearing the explanation for this...Got any circuits that consistently trip the breaker??

 

[rw02kr43]

No circuits are constantly tripping. I went down and looked and didn't see any vents laying on the vents. I did see that this vent is only partially connected. But no wires. I've tested the other vents and no others seem to be conducting current. My wife woke me up and told me the sink was electrified. I touched it and touched it and nothing. then I thought maybe standing on the vent and touching it. Wow!! That does it.

Jason

 

[snorko]

Could the source be the plumbing and standing on the vent is completing the circuit?

 

[red_zr24x4]

Almost sounds like they grounded to the water pipes

 

[rw02kr43]

yeah we wondered about that too. All the pipes going to the sink are pvc though.

Jason

 

[SEIndSAM]

yeah we wondered about that too. All the pipes going to the sink are pvc though.

Jason

Do you have a garbage disposal???

 

[red_zr24x4]

yeah we wondered about that too. All the pipes going to the sink are pvc though.

Jason

Got a garbage disposal ?

 

[rw02kr43]

good call. We has a new disposal put in a few months ago. We tried the breaker for that area and the shock went away. We flipped it back and ouch!!! We unplugged the disposal and it went away. So, we think it might be the disposal. We have it unplugged for now but are having someone come out tomorrow to look at it. If it's the disposal then hopefully menards will replace it. It's only a few months old.

Jason

 

[SEIndSAM]

I love it when INGO helps to solve a problem.....

 

[hoosierdoc]

How is the disposal playing a role here? Is it on a GFCI?

 

[Bigtanker]

Are you sure some critter hasn't got under the sink?

 

[woowoo2]

Do you have a multi meter?
Do you know how to use it?

Check the sink to ground and the vent to ground for AC voltage.

 

[rw02kr43]

The disposal I think has a short in it or something. When it's plugged in the sink is electrified. Just touching it does nothing. But then standing on the metal vent and touching the sink grounds us or something and makes a shock. If I unplug the disposal then there is no power going to the sink. It's not on a GFCI. The plumber said it wasn't needed when I asked him.
Thanks for all your help
Jason

 

[actaeon277]

Lucky you found it so fast. We had a crane arcing at work, 350 ton capacity.
Checked crane over and over.
Finally found a welding machine, half a mile down the track, someone left on, and the leads crossed the track, and were run over.
The tracks aren't grounded, so the machine didn't trip. They just transferred the power.

 

[HubertGummer]

Are you sure some critter hasn't got under the sink?

Seems to me Mr. Obvious has covered this same problem....Hopefully the OP doesn't have a bear in his crawlspace...

 

[JettaKnight]

How is the disposal playing a role here? Is it on a GFCI?

I can't recall if that's a requirement or not, but common sense would be that it should be.

The disposal I think has a short in it or something. When it's plugged in the sink is electrified. Just touching it does nothing. But then standing on the metal vent and touching the sink grounds us or something and makes a shock. If I unplug the disposal then there is no power going to the sink. It's not on a GFCI. The plumber said it wasn't needed when I asked him.
Thanks for all your help
Jason

That should be the last time you use this plumber.