Tired of your old electrical outlets? You must be noticing some issues by now if that’s the case! But are you uncertain of your capability to execute the needed repair or upgrade of the outlets yourself? Well, most people encounter this dilemma. That’s why today, Eagle Rock Residential Electricians has formulated a step-by-step guide for upgrading and repairing electrical outlets so that you won’t have to resort to outlet installation.
For repairing an outlet, proceed sequentially through these steps. If a step does not work, go to the next step. One of these five steps can solve nearly all electrical outlet problems.
- Check whether this is a GFCI outlet. If so, press the reset button. Reset buttons are spring-loaded and can be hard to reset. Press with the tip of a flat-head screwdriver.
- Go to the electrical service panel and see if the circuit breaker controlling the outlet has flipped off. If it has, flips the breaker in the opposite direction, then back again in the correct position.
- Go back to the outlet and check all upstream (line) outlets on the same circuit between the affected outlet and the service panel. If any of these outlets are GFCI outlets, they will affect all downstream outlets (load), even if those affected outlets are not GFCI outlets. If so, reset that GFCI outlet or replace it.
- Remove the outlet’s faceplate that is not working after ensuring the circuit is turned off. Check that all the wires are properly connected to the outlet and that all pigtailed wires are firmly connected to underwire nuts. Bare copper or green plastic-coated wires are ground wires; they will generally not cause an outlet to stop working.
- Rarely will conventional, non-GFCI outlets fail, but this does happen sometimes. If you believe this is the case, replace the outlet with another similar outlet. GFCI outlets regularly fail and for no apparent reason. While GFCI outlets are considerably more expensive than non-GFCI outlets, total replacement is usually the only option.
Upgrading electrical outlets is not impossible for nonprofessionals to do alone. But it would be best if you were quite cautious while doing this. You’ll find three simple steps in which I’ve explained the procedure. This should clear out the whole process of upgrading electrical outlets.
- Step 1: Turn Off The Power
To begin, ascertain that the power of the outlet is turned off. Then pull out the old receptacle by removing the cover plate. Disconnect the wires from the outlet at this point. If you can not disconnect the wire properly, you might be having a brown well power outage. If you see any wire getting damaged at this moment, replace it.
- Step 2: Inspect The Long Wires
Check if the old wires are long enough to connect correctly to the new receptacle. If this isn’t the case, you’ll need to adjust the circuit’s wire gauge. Add a pigtail wire with that. Then, on the GFCI receptacle, connect the wires to the appropriate terminals.
- Step 3: Insert Ground Screw
Finally, in the outlet box, screw in the required ground screw. Connect the screw to the receptacle’s grounding terminal with a grounding wire. The outlet and receptacle are re-installed in the wall once everything is linked. And then the cover plate should be replaced.
This is how you can upgrade electrical outlets. If you are confused or need an outlet installation notice, don’t proceed any further and call Eagle Rock Residential Electricians instead.
Guide For Choosing The Right Electrical Outlet For Your Home
Sockets, commonly referred to as electrical outlets, are one of the electrical materials that become a source of electric current. This is called a socket because this tool becomes a breaker when there is a meeting between positive and negative currents.
Considering that we will use electricity daily, it is important to pay attention to safety when choosing an electrical outlet. If something goes wrong, it can lead to an accident later.
There are several types of electrical outlets, but they all have the same function: connecting an electric current. Next, how do you choose a good and safe electrical outlet? Here’s how:
- Choose an Easy to Install and Safe Electrical Outlet
Make sure the electrical outlet you choose has a design that is easy to install or use. This way, you don’t have to ask a technician for help, which will cost you more. In addition, choose an electrical outlet that already has an SNI certificate. In other words, its safety is guaranteed. Even though you have chosen an easy and safe socket, you still need to pay attention and be careful when installing it. Use it properly in order not to experience damage that results in an electric current that someone can reach.
- Check Quality When Choosing an Electrical Outlet
The good quality of the socket must still be considered to be used for a long time. Quality sockets have a clamping plate material made of brass. Because the brass material can conduct electricity optimally, ensure that the outlet you choose has a holding device for connecting to the plug. Pay attention to the socket body, as the cover is made of materials that do not conduct electricity, are non-flammable, and are durable.
- Choose Affordable Prices and Appropriate Quality
Choosing an affordable price according to quality also needs to be done when buying a socket. Good quality materials have a higher price than ordinary ones. So don’t just be tempted by cheap prices because the quality and price are directly proportional. Choose a socket that is well-known in the market at an appropriate price. Usually, people will choose a socket with a medium price and good quality.
- Adjust to Home Design
The socket cannot be hidden because it is used to connect an electric current. If you like stylish things, you can choose a socket that matches the design of your home. It doesn’t need to be fancy; you can do it simply by matching the socket’s color with the place where it is. Not only that, but you can also combine the model and color of the socket that is connected to the switch. Then you can determine whether the design of the socket is suitable, appropriate, and of good quality. Because if you only focus on the shape, it still does not guarantee the quality and safety of the socket.
- Performing Tests on the Electrical Outlet
Another thing that can be done next is to test the socket. You can start testing by plugging the plug into the socket outlet and doing this a few times. If the grip on the plug owned by the socket is not reduced, then the quality is also good and durable. You can also do another experiment to check what the quality of the socket is like. Such as checking the strength of the cable terminals and testing the flexibility of the ground arc. Perform a test that does not cause damage to the socket.
If you’re ready to make a decision and set an appointment, you may call our hotlines anytime and you’ll be assisted by our patient customer support team. You can also read more information about your electrical system here on our website.