How to Replace an Electrical Outlet

Introduction

When 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.

By: eHow Home & Garden Editor

Length: 1:55

Comments: 8

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Instructions

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Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Tips & Warnings:

Don't overtighten the cover plate, or you may cause it to crack.
Working with electrical systems is potentially dangerous. If you're unsure of your abilities or about any aspect of the project, call an electrician (see "eHow to Hire an Electrician').
Whenever you turn the circuit breaker off or on, use only one hand and look away from the breaker to reduce the risk of injury should the breaker blow.

Step1

Turn off the power to the outlet at the fuse box or circuit breakers. Tag the circuit breaker box 'Man at Work' or something similar so no one mistakenly turns the power back on while you're working.

Step2

Test the outlet with a circuit tester or an electrical appliance to make sure the power is off. Place the tester's probes inside the plug. If the tester's light goes on, recheck the main power and retest until there's no power in the outlet.

Step3

Unscrew the cover plate and remove it.

Step4

Unscrew the outlet and pull it out of the wall. It should come out a few inches. Set the screws aside.

Step5

Using colored pens or tape, mark where each wire was attached to the outlet. The wires and screws will be different colors; note the places where they attach.

Step6

Loosen the screws holding the wires and remove the outlet.

Step7

Take the old outlet with you to a hardware or electrical-supply store. A salesperson can help you find the correct outlet to replace the old one. Keep the old outlet as a guide to installing the new one.

Step8

Using the marks on the old outlet as guides, attach the wires to the new outlet. Wrap the wires around the terminals with needle-nose pliers or your fingers.

Step9

Tighten the screws around the wires.

Step10

Screw the outlet back into the wall.

Step11

Screw the cover plate back on.

Step12

Reactivate the proper circuits at the fuse box and test your work.

Comments

pmoncoeur said

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on 8/5/2008 Thanks for te step-by-step instructions. You saved me a service call and at least $200.00 plus the cost of parts. Please keep writing and posting great DIY articles. Thanks again!

ncblu66 said

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on 7/27/2007 and if someone comes across a split receptacle, are they going to know to do what?????

break off the tab....

matt.reichert said

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on 3/27/2007 for 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.

marcostejada said

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on 7/5/2007 new addition two rooms i dont have power on two recepticles in each room ligths work how can find the problem im using a outlet tester and every time i useit its say neutral contact not connected and on the other saids hot contact not connected please if you can help me fix my problem i will appreciated thank you

Anonymous said

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on 7/17/2006 When bending a solid wire, grip the wire with needle nose pliers and twist the wire part way around the nose of the pliers to form a "hook". Use this to "hook" around the screw.