Changing the electrical outlet is much easier than most people think. With these steps, we can change outlets that are worn-looking or not working at Best Online Cabinets.
Tools You Need In Changing The Outlet
It’s a no-brainer that you need tools to change an outlet at home, especially if you do it yourself. Here are the tools you need:
- Electric Drill
- Torpedo Level
- Wire Strippers
6 Steps in Changing An Outlet At Home In Just One Minute
Here are the steps to follow to change your outlet easily.
Step 1 – Safety First
Turn off the power at the junction box.
Step 2 – Unscrew The Outlet
After you remove the faceplate, unscrew the outlet from its place in the wall. You will see a few different wires, and this is what they do:
- The black wire is the “hot” wire that brings power to the outlet.
- The white wire is the “neutral” wire that returns the power to the source.
- The orange wire is the “ground” wire that discharges the excess electrical overload to keep you safe.
One side of the outlet is for the hot wire, the other is for the neutral wire, and there will be a section for the ground wire. All of these are labeled on the outlet.
All similar wires go together. This is all-important to know before going into the next steps.
Step 3 – Unscrew The Wires From The Outlet
When you unscrew the wires from the outlet, you will notice that the wires are stripped and looped around each corresponding screw.
Step 4 – Replace With New Outlet And Reattach Wires
Reattach the stripped part of the wires to the corresponding outlet parts, similar to the previous setup of cables on the old outlet. If you need more stripped wire, use a wire stripper to remove more casing and expose the wire.
Step 5 – Safeguard The Outlet
To make sure the wires remain connected, add electrical tape around the connecting cables and screws to reinforce a secure connection. This will also prevent overheating over time.
Step 6 – Check For Level
Make sure your outlet cover is square, and then screw in your face cover plate. In our example, we use a Decora outlet with a screwless face plate that secures itself by being pressed into the outlet.
For more videos in this series on how to renovate a kitchen from start to finish, go to bestonlinecabinets.com
