Static electricity is really getting under my skin!

[John Schmidt]

Only seems to come after I get off the couch so thinking it might be the covering. Looks & feels a bit like smooth suede but all I know is sometimes it's so strong it causes a muscle or two to react. My TV sits on a built in shelf with a metal corner under the mud used over sheetrock. A noise outside prompted me to get off the couch and walk over to look out the sliding glass door. In doing so I happened to nearly touch the edge of that shelf and a spark literally jumped a good 3/4" to my shoulder. It was so strong my arm jerked up sideways since it had jumped to the deltoid muscle, and the TV actually went blank for a few seconds. I sometimes forget and will walk out of a room and shut off the lights, only to be met with a sharp zap by the cover plate screws. Really a major irritation so I'm wondering what can I do to stop or reduce it. I've been tossing around the idea of attaching a ground wire to the couch surface and run it under a nearby rug runner and connect to a cover plate cover screw. It's really painful at times, especially if I forget and jerk with a cup of coffee in my hand. 

[Jess from VA]

I'm wondering if you are in sox only, and if rubber soled (non slip) slippers might eliminate (or reduce) this?

A shocking experience.  This was pretty bad in the home I grew up in in wintertime.  Dry as dust and the wood furniture fell apart and we'd all get sore throats.

We'd shuffle across the floor to get all charged up, then reach out and touch someone's (dosing in a chair) earlobe.  ZAP!  

Except this says rubber soles make it worse.  https://happyhiller.com/blog/how-to-reduce-static-electricity-at-home/

[Gregory Scott 16248]

You need to add moisture to your house, either through a humidifier or boiling hot water in a tea kettle. The air is to dry in your house and this will cause static electricity to build up. Back in the 20's-60's people placed a pan of water on the hot water radiator heat to get moisture in the house. 

[Thunderbolt]

John I have the same problem in the grocery store when I open freezer doors.  If you hold a metal object in your hand and touch that cover screw or shelf or other metal object with the metal first it will discharge the static with a snap and not hurt you.  I carry a Gerber multitool on by belt and when in the store I use that but a coin will work, just make sure the discharge point is not your skin but the metal object.  Sitting on the couch that wouldn't be convenient but you could leave a metal object next to you and pick it up each time you get up.
But then again you just might need to change underwear brands................

[Rams]

My only suggestion is to carry around/drag a grounding strap.   Might look a bit strange but, should stop the static problem. 

Rams

[GiG]

John:
Electro-Static Discharges can exceed 25KV. 
Your sofa most likely is a type of synthetic fabric that creates a static change on your body.
You have good advice on humidity, static discharge requires a relatively low RH. Keep moisture in your room. Running a clothes drier will suck the moisture right out and make conditions more likely to create ESD.
 Grounding the sofa probably won’t help, but would be an interesting experiment.
What will work is attach a 1 meter wire to to the electrical ground with a small metal pad (think kick stand pad) on the other end. Touch the pad each time you stand to dissipate the charge.

[F6Dave]

Here in Colorado and other mountain states a humidifier is nearly essential.  Humidity is often in the teens and even the single digits during the winter.  I use a large unit with removable tanks to make filling it easier, and run it from November through March.  During the driest months it uses over a gallon of water per day.  Walmart and Home Depot sell some good ones.

If I need to work on electronic equipment I take both my shoes and socks off to prevent static from frying the components.  You'll ground yourself better if there's nothing insulating you from the floor.

Interestingly, years ago when hospitals used flammable anesthetics, operating rooms had conductive flooring and all the docs and assistants wore paper boots with a ground strap running from the sole to their bare ankle.  I think that stuff was banned a few decades ago.

[Ken aka Oil Burner]

The house I grew up in was terrible in the winter for static. I remember my poor dog back then. You'd reach out to pet him and he'd wince away from your hand, waiting to get zapped. Of course, my brother and I made a game of it shocking each other. Dangerous game to play, as the one who gets the worst of the blast may just be you.

[Rams]

 Grounding the sofa probably won’t help, but would be an interesting experiment.
What will work is attach a 1 meter wire to to the electrical ground with a small metal pad (think kick stand pad) on the other end. Touch the pad each time you stand to dissipate the charge.

This is a much better idea than what I suggested, people would start to talk and say funny things if you were walking/dragging around with a grounding strap/wire attached to your belt.   

Rams

[semo97]

wipe with static cling sheets you put in the dryer. you can use a coat hanger, rub it along the seat and back before sitting down

[DDT (12)]

John,

Wish I could offer more than mere sympathy... I've struggled off and on with that too over the years... Humidity/moisture in the air (or its absence) does appear to have a major impact on that, as others have mentioned. Also, using a key, coin, or other metallic object for discharge as Terry suggested has also worked for this charged-up dude, as well. I suppose dragging a ground strap or chain could also work, but I've never tried that. I reckon grumbling about it is the one constant in my experience... Good luck!

DDT

[Funbaldguy]

Try a fish tank. I have a 30 gallon one in the front room. I have to add a few gallons a week. The grand kids really like it. I clean it maybe once a month. Rinse filters, scrub walls and replace 10% of water. Fish do last a long time.  I have only two fish in there now. One I have had 12 yrs.   It’s a .99 cent feeder fish. I bought when I moved in to this house to check our true well water condition. It’s Partner died a couple years ago. The other came with the tank when my dads Niebors moved 6 hrs ago.  I started with a 10 gallon. Look at adds. So many out there for free because the fish have passed. Or not. Good luck.

[Valker]

I bought this. It works.
Anti-static spray. Walmart has it, but I got mine on Amazon.

[hubcapsc]

I hate how dry it gets in the house during the heating months... dry
skin, skin lotion doesn't help much. My guitar drys out. Now I have
another guitar and I read a guitar forum much like this motorcycle
forum a lot. That pushed me over the edge... I have five of these
things running in my house now, and some humidity gauges. Without
the humidifiers my humidity would be in the high 20s or low 30s
most of the time. Now it is in the mid 40s (people and guitars like
40-50) all the time. My skin is not dry and it is probably a
good "general health" thing...



Not having the dry skin is motivation to keep the humidifiers
filled and going... I have to service them a couple of times a
day. They're "ultrasonic" humidifiers, so now it is Valkyrie
carburetor related 

-Mike

[six2go #152]

As others have said........Humidify. Your skin and sinuses will thank you too.

[Jess from VA]

I had a humidifier attachment to my furnace (for winter use), but it blew up and they wanted $850 for a new one and I was too cheap to do it.  But my VA house has never had a real dry or static electric or wood furniture falling apart or sore throat issues in winters.

Someone gave me a big humidifier with refillable water tank (Sharper Image).  The issue was, where to set it?  Then I had an epiphany.  I set it on the floor right next to the main air intake (cold return) for my furnace.  That way it acted just like the one that used to be attached to my furnace.  When the furnace ran, it sucked all the humidifier steam into the HVAC and got distributed though the house duct-work.  

I quit using it after I could discover no real difference in my house, but this might work for others.  

[Valker]

I had a humidifier attachment to my furnace (for winter use), but it blew up and they wanted $850 for a new one and I was too cheap to do it.  But my VA house has never had a real dry or static electric or wood furniture falling apart or sore throat issues in winters.

Someone gave me a big humidifier with refillable water tank (Sharper Image).  The issue was, where to set it?  Then I had an epiphany.  I set it on the floor right next to the main air intake (cold return) for my furnace.  That way it acted just like the one that used to be attached to my furnace.  When the furnace ran, it sucked all the humidifier steam into the HVAC and got distributed though the house duct-work.  

I quit using it after I could discover no real difference in my house, but this might work for others.  

If the humidity went through the furnace where the heat is made, that removed anything you added previously. Humidifiers come AFTER the flame/coils to do any good.

[Jess from VA]

Thanks, I didn't know that but it makes perfect sense.

[John Schmidt]

I do have a humidifier but don't run it all the time so guess I need to change that habit. I used to chuckle at Rita...she just never cussed BUT let her get zapped by static. I recall once she had been sitting on the front porch kinda dozing/reading in the early Spring sun. She got up and went inside to use the pot when I heard this rather loud "comment" from her so asked about it. Seems she had dropped her britches prior to sitting and also dropped the book she had been reading. She bent over to pick it up and her bare butt touched the metal framing of the shower enclosure. ZAP! I laughed until I had tears, her...not so much. 

[Moonshot_1]

You want to stop or reduce it????

Hell, you need to market it! I see a government subsidy coming your way! Green New Deal baby!

So rub them stocking feet on the carpet and the polyester pants on the sofa!

You can save the world. You can!

[Patrick]

At my age I'm up for any excitement I can get.

[_Sheffjs_]

Um, you left Florida! 

[Jess from VA]

At my age I'm up for any excitement I can get.

You better watch what you wish for.  (but I can relate)

Last time I was thinking that, a family of mice got in the house.     

[old2soon]

      Growing up North of Chicago long cold winters central heat rubber soles nylon carpet. ZAP!  All I have to add moisture to the heated air is a 1 gal milk jug with a square cut out of one side. After Making SURE the cap is tight fill it about 3/4 full with water put an old CLEAN sock in it-acts like a wick-and I set this contraption on the heat register in my bedroom. No dry air here thank ya very much!  RIDE SAFE.

[Jess from VA]

      Growing up North of Chicago long cold winters central heat rubber soles nylon carpet. ZAP!  All I have to add moisture to the heated air is a 1 gal milk jug with a square cut out of one side. After Making SURE the cap is tight fill it about 3/4 full with water put an old CLEAN sock in it-acts like a wick-and I set this contraption on the heat register in my bedroom. No dry air here thank ya very much!  RIDE SAFE.

Should use a two week old sweaty sock.  (to make you dream of days below decks in the Navy)   

[Patrick]

At my age I'm up for any excitement I can get.

You better watch what you wish for.  (but I can relate)

Last time I was thinking that, a family of mice got in the house.     

Hehehehe, thats not quite the excitement I was thinking about. 

[John Schmidt]

Um, you left Florida! 

Jerry, I didn't have a choice at the time when the house went to Rita's kids and me facing cancer treatment. Had to be near family...just in case. In the end, I came out on top financially...more so than the kids. 

[cookiedough]

besides humidifiers maybe get 2 or 3 vs. just one,  cook more often at home with boiling water for pasta or other moist cooking methods.  When the wife cooks she steams up our patio windows is so MOIST cannot see thru them with water droplets drizzling down the glass.  Even warm steam coming from a frying pan helps some in our small house. 

Static electricity shocks have never really been an issue in our house for some reason even in the cold winter months even not running humidifiers which we have used in the past mostly for dry skin.