Replacing Electrical Outlet

Replacing your electrical outlet on your own can save you about $40 you would pay an electrician to come out to the house to do it for you. You really don't need to know much about electrical work to just replace an existing outlet, you just have to make sure you follow the simple directions below and always make sure your main breaker is turned off before you begin working.

Materials Needed
1) Replacement outlet (Match existing)

Tools Needed
1) Flat head Screwdriver
2) Voltage Tester

The first step you need to do is make sure that you turn off the breaker that powers the outlet that you are changing. Once your power is turned off make sure to check the outlet you will be replacing with the voltage tester to make sure that there is no electricity coming in.


Remove the face plate of the wall outlet.


Remove the two screws that hold the actual outlet in place and pull the damaged outlet out.


Once the outlet is out I always double check to see that the wires are not live by checking with the voltage tester at the contact points on the outlet. (Better safe than sorry)

The next step if pretty much taking one off at a time and placing it on the same location except on the new outlet. The hot wire is usually black or red and will be connected to the side that has the shorter slot on the outlet, and the neutral wire which is white will be connected to the side where the slot that is bigger. The ground wire which is usually green or bare copper will be grounded to the outlet casing which has a green screw indicating the ground.
   

Now that you replaced the outlet you simply screw the new outlet back into place and attach the cover and turn your breaker back on. You have successfully replaced your damaged wall outlet. See you soon!