http://www.ehow.com/guide_12-http://www.ehow.com/guide_12-home.html.htmlwww.ehow.comhttp://www.ehow.com/how_758_replace-electrical-outlet.htmlWhen it comes to home repairs there are some things you should leave to the pros, but there are also things you don't need to spend money on a handyman for. Fixing a faulty electrical outlet is an example of something you can do yourself with a minimum of worry and cost. Just make sure you put safety first. Published on 2/16/2000http://www.ehow.com/tips_758.htmland if someone comes across a split receptacle, are they going to know to do what????? <br/> <br/>break off the tab....http://www.ehow.com/tips_758.htmlfor anyone who has a problem like the guy with addition: lights and plugs are usually on a different circuit. Make sure you have the right breaker off first. Your plugs will be wired in a row with a wire going from one to the next around the room. That should all be one circuit. FIRST, BUY A TESTER (it's yellow with diagnosing lights on the front and a 3 prong plug on the back- available for $5 at any hardware store). If you have some saying the hot and neutrals aren't connected like marcostejada, that means they are loose or switched somewhere on the circuit. First check the ones that say it's connected wrong. If you don't find the problem there, go to the next one on either side of the problem outlets. White is neutral and black or red is hot. Your plug should have little holes for inserting the stripped wire ends in...a fast connection compared to bending the wires around the screws. If it doesn't, it's and older one. Anyway, if you look at the side of the plug where the wires connect, it will say hot on one side and neutral on the other. Make sure all the white wires are connected to the neutral side and black to hot on all your receptacles. If those are switched, the circuit is broken and there is your problem. If everything is kosher, then you either have a bad connection on one of the wires to the plug or short somewhere in the wall.