This is "bugging" me - Any Ideas?

[redhawker]

The picture below shows the type of light I have on my front porch and patio. They are not can lights but are small "puck" lights that surface-mount to the electric junction box they are wired to. It only takes about a month for them to accumulate enough bugs that it almost blocks the light from them. There appears to be no way in for the bugs, with the exception of the two "channels" where the front porch light mounts to the porch ceiling and the four "channels" where the patio light mounts to the patio ceiling. So, the last time I cleaned them out, I got some foam from an old pipe insulator I had lying around in the garage and stuffed some in those channels. I figured that would block the only way in for the little buggers. Well, it's been about two weeks, and they are both about 1/3 full of bugs again (see picture). Can anybody figure out how the hell they're getting in there? I'm stumped.

 

[Dan in MI]

A picture of the mount without the light and the light from the mount view may help

 

[contender]

Just stuffing pieces of foam into places still leaves places small bugs can access.
Liquid expanding foam works better. And even then,, it never hurts to add exterior silicone to the edges. BUT,, that's a hard thing to remove when necessary, as it becomes a sealed system.

 

[Jim Walsh]

That would…ahem…bug me. I would have one attempt at sealing that unit with silicone or polysulfide. If unsuccessful I’d replace those with sealed units intended for exterior installations.
I have sealed units on my boat because salt air is corrosive. Perhaps lighting marketed by the marine industry would be a solution.

 

[jimbo1096]

Replace them with the newer LED
They lever clips on two edges and work great. Approved for wet environment and reasonably
Priced.

 

[Taterman]

You could try duct seal or plumbers putty in the slots. Then it would still be easy to remove if needed.

 

[JiminMaine]

Cut a piece of aluminum flashing to fit between the light and the electrical box. Seal it on with a bit of silicone caulk. Easy to cut the caulk loose if you need to replace it in the future.

 

[GunnyGene]

I'll suggest spraying with Ortho Home Defense. Widely available at Lowes, Walmart, etc. I've used it for years inside and outside. It works. Pull your lights out and spray the ceiling around the junction box and for about 12" all around where the lights are and the inside of the fixture, and once remounted the exterior of the fixture. Don't turn electricity back on until the spray dries. The one gallon jug will do my entire house perimeter inside and out. Even kills and deters wasps.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/ORTHO-Home...-Gallon-Ready-to-use-Insect-killer/5020738143

 

[GSP7]

Use Dynamite

 

[gwpercle]

Those lights were intended to mount on a Flat surface ... the ribbed metal soffit panels have a lot of non-flat surface .
You will need a better sealing material ...
can a spray foam material be used ...
Take the light down and show us what the back side of the fixture looks like ...
it may be easier to seal the back of the fixture ... it may be even easier to get another fixture that is sealed and rated for exterior / damp locations !
Gary

 

[redhawker]

Ok, here's the back of this light. I didn't want to climb up there and take one down, but I think you'll get the idea. The picture with the stickers on it is the side that mounts to a standard round electrical junction box, so I think if you're familiar with those, you can see how this mounts. They are getting in there somehow and crawling in through the holes into the area where the light is. You can see the three plastic tabs for the lens, which locks it with a slight twist clockwise. I am kind of liking the suggestions about just replacing them with sealed lights. Looking into those now.