How to Change Electrical Wall Outlets

You can replace your faulty wall outlet.

Wall outlets that have cracks or other damage are unsightly and pose potential electrical hazards. Rather than attempt to repair the outlet, you can change the electrical outlet. Electrical wall outlets are available at home improvement centers and are inexpensive. If you do not already own one, you should purchase a circuit tester. A circuit tester is a small hand held light with tow wire probes. You can test the power going to an outlet quickly. This will ensure that the outlet does not have power before you begin removing wires.

Things You'll Need

• Flathead screwdriver
• Circuit tester
• Replacement wall outlet
• Phillips-head screwdriver

Instructions

1. Locate the circuit breaker that controls the current to the wall or room you are changing the wall outlet. The circuit breaker will be in the home electrical box and there is usually labels identifying what circuit breaker goes to what room. Turn off the circuit breaker by pushing the circuit breaker to the off position with your fingers.

2. Remove the screws securing the cover plate to the wall outlet with a flathead screwdriver. Pull the cover plate away from the wall and outlet. Touch the ends of the probes of your circuit tester to the top two terminal screws on each side of the outlet. If the light does not illuminate, test the bottom two screws. If the test light illuminates on either test, the power is still on to the outlet. Try turning off another circuit breaker. It is only safe to proceed when the test light does not illuminate when testing the terminal screws.

3. Remove the screws securing the outlet to the junction box with the flathead screwdriver. There will be one screw on top and one on the bottom. Pull the outlet away from the junction box enough that you can access the terminal screws on the side.

4. Look at the back of the outlet and write down the amperage, wire gauge and voltage readings. Take this information to a home improvement store or electrical supply center to purchase a replacement outlet that matches the existing outlet.

5. Loosen the terminal screws on the old outlet that secure the house wires to the outlet with a Phillips-head screwdriver. Make notes about what wire attaches to each terminal for installation on the new outlet.

6. Loosen the terminal screws on the new outlet enough that you can connect the house wires to the outlet. Twist the strands on each house wire in your finger tips so each wire is straight. Bend the end of each wire into a small hook and hook the wire ends around the respective terminal screw. Tighten the screws with the Phillips-head screwdriver to secure the wires.

7. Push the outlet and the wires into the junction box and secure the outlet to the junction box with the retaining screws. Place the outlet cover over the outlet and secure with the retaining screw. Turn the circuit breaker on to feed power to the new wall outlet.

Tips & Warnings

• Always turn off power to electrical outlets and switches before repairing them. Test outlets prior to removing with circuit testers to ensure no current is running to the outlet.

References

• True Value: Changing Wall Outlet
• Creative Homeowner: Replacing Wall Outlet