{"id":7587,"date":"2017-01-11T19:12:29","date_gmt":"2017-01-12T00:12:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/homeadditionplus.com\/dev\/?page_id=7587"},"modified":"2017-05-15T06:26:00","modified_gmt":"2017-05-15T11:26:00","slug":"how-to-fix-loose-electrical-outlet","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/homeadditionplus.com\/dev\/electrical\/how-to-fix-loose-electrical-outlet\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Fix a Loose Electrical Outlet"},"content":{"rendered":"<h4><span style=\"color: #008000;\"><strong>Loose Electrical Outlets are Annoying and Can be Dangerous<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><script type=\"text\/javascript\"><!-- google_ad_client = \"pub-3988490936633155\"; \/* Homepage_Home_Improvement_468x15_ATF, created 8\/13\/10 *\/ google_ad_slot = \"6539705898\"; google_ad_width = 468; google_ad_height = 15; \/\/-->\n<\/script><br \/>\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" src=\"http:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/show_ads.js\">\n<\/script><br \/>\nBy Mark J. Donovan<\/p>\n<div class=\"KonaBody\">\n<table style=\"width: 100%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"50%\">\n<p align=\"center\"><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js\"><\/script><br \/>\n<!-- New_300x250_051317 --><br \/>\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\n     style=\"display:inline-block;width:300px;height:250px\"\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-3988490936633155\"\n     data-ad-slot=\"4202793463\"><\/ins><br \/>\n<script>\n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\n<\/script>\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td width=\"1%\"><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\" width=\"49%\">Do you have a loose electrical outlet that pushes in or sideways when you plug an appliance into it? If so, you can and should fix the loose electrical outlet problem promptly. A loose electrical outlet increases the risk of electrical shock. Moreover, the electrical wires that connect into the outlet can loosen over time, which can result in the outlet no longer working and\/or dangerous arcing conditions occurring.<\/p>\n<p>To repair a loose electrical outlet all you need is a screwdriver and a couple of shims specifically designed for electrical outlets.<\/p>\n<p>Before working on the electrical outlet, first turn off power to the electrical outlet at the main circuit panel.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>Check to make sure power is indeed off to the electrical outlet by using a circuit tester. You can also check by plugging in an appliance and making sure it no longer turns on.<\/p>\n<p>Next remove the electrical cover plate to expose the electrical outlet. Use a screw driver to remove the screws that hold the cover plate to the electrical outlet.<\/p>\n<table style=\"width: 100%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\" width=\"50%\">Then check the loose electrical outlet to see what type of motion it has. If it has only lateral movement (side to side), tighten up the two screws that hold the electrical outlet to the electrical box, making sure the electrical outlet is first plumb.<\/p>\n<p>If the electrical outlet is recessed too deeply and pushes in and out when you put pressure on its front face, such as when you plug an electrical appliance into it, then use one or more electrical outlet shims to fix the problem.<\/p>\n<p>Electrical outlet shims are very inexpensive and can be found at any home improvement center. If the electrical box itself is recessed into the wall too deeply then you may want to use a receptacle outlet box extender.<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\" width=\"1%\"><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\" width=\"49%\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/B002DQT5UK\/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=B002DQT5UK&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=wwwhomeadditi-20&amp;linkId=736e9b80a817fa756abc31bff4e0c855\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/\/ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/widgets\/q?_encoding=UTF8&amp;MarketPlace=US&amp;ASIN=B002DQT5UK&amp;ServiceVersion=20070822&amp;ID=AsinImage&amp;WS=1&amp;Format=_SL250_&amp;tag=wwwhomeadditi-20\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;\" src=\"\/\/ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/e\/ir?t=wwwhomeadditi-20&amp;l=am2&amp;o=1&amp;a=B002DQT5UK\" alt=\"\" width=\"1\" height=\"1\" border=\"0\" \/><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>They are commonly used in wall tile projects and extend the outlet outward so that it is flush with the finished tile surface.<\/p>\n<p>After shimming the electrical outlet reattach the outlet cover plate and turn power back onto the outlet at the main circuit panel. That\u2019s all there is to it to fixing a loose electrical outlet.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<hr \/>\n<p><span style=\"color: #008000; font-size: large;\"><b>For help on building a new custom home<\/b><\/span>, see HomeAdditionPlus.com&#8217;s<b><span lang=\"en-us\" style=\"color: #0000ff;\"> <a style=\"color: #0000ff;\" href=\"http:\/\/homeadditionplus.com\/dev\/home_addition_bid_sheets\/new-home-construction-bid-sheet\/\">New Home Construction Bid Sheet<\/a><\/span><span lang=\"EN\">. <\/span><\/b>The<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><b> <span lang=\"EN\"><a style=\"color: #0000ff;\" href=\"http:\/\/homeadditionplus.com\/dev\/home_addition_bid_sheets\/new-home-construction-bid-sheet\/\">New Home Construction Bid Sheet<\/a><\/span><\/b><\/span> provides you with the knowledge on how to plan a custom home building project, and what to look for when hiring contractors for your new home construction. It also includes a detailed cost breakdown table and spreadsheet for estimating your own new home construction building costs.<\/p>\n<h3 align=\"left\"><span style=\"color: #008000; font-size: large;\"><b>Related\u00a0Information<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: large; color: #0000ff;\"><b><a style=\"color: #0000ff;\" href=\"http:\/\/homeadditionplus.com\/dev\/electrical\/how-to-wire-a-3-way-light-switch\/\">How to Wire a 3-Way Light Switch<\/a><\/b><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: large; color: #0000ff;\"><b><a style=\"color: #0000ff;\" href=\"http:\/\/homeadditionplus.com\/dev\/electrical\/switched-outlet-wiring-video\/\">How to Wire a Switched Outlet Video<\/a><\/b><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #0000ff; font-size: large;\"><b><a style=\"color: #0000ff;\" href=\"http:\/\/homeadditionplus.com\/dev\/electrical\/how-to-wire-a-half-switched-outlet-video\/\">How to Wire a Half Switched Outlet Video<\/a><\/b><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<h2 align=\"left\"><b><span style=\"color: #008000; font-size: large;\">Additional Electrical Wiring\u00a0Resources from Amazon.com<\/span><\/b><\/h2>\n<table id=\"AutoNumber9\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td align=\"center\" width=\"25%\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/159186612X\/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=159186612X&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=wwwhomeadditi-20&amp;linkId=b03bc7f938c37eee0d0eb190dda35a5f\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/\/ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/widgets\/q?_encoding=UTF8&amp;MarketPlace=US&amp;ASIN=159186612X&amp;ServiceVersion=20070822&amp;ID=AsinImage&amp;WS=1&amp;Format=_SL250_&amp;tag=wwwhomeadditi-20\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;\" src=\"\/\/ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/e\/ir?t=wwwhomeadditi-20&amp;l=am2&amp;o=1&amp;a=159186612X\" alt=\"\" width=\"1\" height=\"1\" border=\"0\" \/><\/td>\n<td align=\"center\" width=\"25%\"><\/td>\n<td align=\"center\" width=\"25%\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/1580114873\/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=1580114873&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=wwwhomeadditi-20&amp;linkId=75e760742487fe874523e737fa26bdc1\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/\/ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/widgets\/q?_encoding=UTF8&amp;MarketPlace=US&amp;ASIN=1580114873&amp;ServiceVersion=20070822&amp;ID=AsinImage&amp;WS=1&amp;Format=_SL250_&amp;tag=wwwhomeadditi-20\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;\" src=\"\/\/ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/e\/ir?t=wwwhomeadditi-20&amp;l=am2&amp;o=1&amp;a=1580114873\" alt=\"\" width=\"1\" height=\"1\" border=\"0\" \/><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<hr \/>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #008000; font-size: large;\">Free Home Addition Price Quotes with No Obligation!<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Fill out our 3-5 minute quick and easy form, and receive a free price quote on a house addition from one of our prescreened and licensed home addition contractors. This process is free and there is no obligation to continue once you receive your house addition price estimate.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.inforequests.com\/pub5x\/\/?allowRefNet=N&amp;layout=H&amp;PublisherSubID=Room_Addition_Bottom&amp;url=http:\/\/g.gaesy.com\/cgi\/r?;n=203;c=622397;s=4383;x=7936;f=201006161516140;u=j;z=TIMESTAMP;&amp;servicescheckbox=ROOM_ADDITIONS&amp;submit=submit\" width=\"660\" height=\"560\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Loose Electrical Outlets are Annoying and Can be Dangerous By Mark J. Donovan Do you have a loose electrical outlet that pushes in or sideways when you plug an appliance into it? If so, you can and should fix the loose electrical outlet problem promptly. A loose electrical outlet increases the risk of electrical shock. Moreover, the electrical wires that connect into the outlet can loosen over time, which can result in the outlet no longer working and\/or dangerous arcing conditions occurring. To repair a loose electrical outlet all you&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":1928,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-7587","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>How to Fix a Loose Electrical Outlet - HomeAdditionPlus.com<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/homeadditionplus.com\/dev\/electrical\/how-to-fix-loose-electrical-outlet\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How to Fix a Loose Electrical Outlet - HomeAdditionPlus.com\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Loose Electrical Outlets are Annoying and Can be Dangerous By Mark J. Donovan Do you have a loose electrical outlet that pushes in or sideways when you plug an appliance into it? If so, you can and should fix the loose electrical outlet problem promptly. A loose electrical outlet increases the risk of electrical shock. Moreover, the electrical wires that connect into the outlet can loosen over time, which can result in the outlet no longer working and\/or dangerous arcing conditions occurring. 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Donovan Do you have a loose electrical outlet that pushes in or sideways when you plug an appliance into it? If so, you can and should fix the loose electrical outlet problem promptly. A loose electrical outlet increases the risk of electrical shock. Moreover, the electrical wires that connect into the outlet can loosen over time, which can result in the outlet no longer working and\/or dangerous arcing conditions occurring. 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