Repairing Wall Electrical Outlets

These rarely cause trouble. Sometimes they get loose and only need tightening.

To replace:

1. Remove fuse or trip circuit breaker to off for particular room of the house. Test to be sure you have correct circuit by plugging a lamp into the receptacle.
2. Unscrew and remove face the plate.
3. Unscrew the mounting screws at top and bottom and pull the unit out.
4. Notice how wires are connected and connect them to the new unit the same way. All white wires are connected to the side with a silvery color and the black wires to the brassy terminals.
5. A green grounding wire might be connected on newer systems so be sure to reconnect this wire also.
6. Reassemble the outlet doing steps above in reverse order.

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Additional Resources

Books, Videos, Magazines, Power tools, and Free Furnace Contractor Quotes

• Home Maintenance for Dummies
• Basic Wiring (Home Repair and Improvement)
• Advanced Wiring (Home Repair and Improvement)
• Wiring : Electrical Repairs and Improvements (Easy-Step Series)
• The Complete Idiot's Guide to Electrical Repair
• Lighting & Electricity (How to Fix It, Vol 4)
• The Virgin Homeowner : The Essential Guide to Owning, Maintaining, and Surviving Your Home
• New Fix-It-Yourself Manual

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